- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
We are searching for talented and motivated Mechanical Engineers to join the High Performance Materials and Processing Department (HPMP) of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We are seeking individuals with knowledge across a range of competencies including Design and Analysis, Model and Simulation, Process Development and Optimization, and Characterization and Testing. The successful candidate will support research and development of new materials, innovative material system designs, and novel fabrication and testing methods covering a wide range of material systems including ceramics, metallics, and ceramic/metal matrix composites. ARL-Penn State has a decades long reputation of excellence and demonstrated history of developing systems and technologies currently used by the US Navy and industry.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Use accepted methods and techniques to assist with the design, development, implementation, and analysis of technical engineering products, systems, and subsystems
Contribute data/findings for use in technical reports, documents, or oral/written presentations
Interact in a collaborative manner with other team members, engineers, and scientists to accomplish organizational goals; may provide ideas to improve efficiency at group.
Program management of multi-year research programs, tracking deliverables, milestones, and resource allocation
Present research, designs, and findings internally to engineers and scientists as well as externally to sponsors and research partners
Aid in the design, fabrication, and testing of advanced material systems across ceramics, metals, and ceramic/metal matrix composites; work spans design and analysis, process development and optimization, and characterization and testing, with opportunities to contribute from concept through prototype and validation
Additional responsibilities for higher level position include:
Ability to manage a laboratory space
Direct work of lower-level staff and undergraduate students
Investigate and evaluate applicability of scientific theories and engineering principles in the development and improvement of engineering systems
Initiate or contribute data/analysis/design for technical reports, documents, proposals, or oral/written presentations
Author/co-author papers, proposals, presentations, and reports
Required skills/experience areas include:
5+ years of understanding basic engineering principles and applying them to real-world problems
Ability to facilitate the overall design process including conception, analysis, building, and testing of mechanical systems
Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team environment
Have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required
Preferred skills/experience areas include:
Prior work in hypersonics, aerospace, and propulsion technologies
Ceramic and metallurgical engineering for high temperature environments
Defense manufacturing technology development
Prototyping, hardware manufacturing, and rapid design iteration
NX and Solidworks
Abaqus, COMSOL, Ansys, and Matlab
Mechanical/Electrical design and troubleshooting
Past success presenting work to sponsors and technical audiences
Materials characterization using techniques including optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and optical profilometry
Working knowledge of vacuum system pumps, controls, electrical requirements, design, and integration of components
Preferred degrees could include: Mechanical Engineer, Aerospace engineering, Process Engineering, and Material Science Engineering
Your working location will be fully on-site, located in State College, PA. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process. This position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a small team of researchers, engineers, and technologists.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 14+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None If filled as Research and Development Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires: Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science 5+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None
ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $121,704.00 - $231,000.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science
- 5+ years of applying engineering principles to real-world problems
- Ability to facilitate full design process: conception, analysis, build, and test of mechanical systems
- Ability to work independently and in interdisciplinary teams
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
- Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher
- U.S. citizenship (must be a U.S. citizen to apply)
- Successful completion of background checks and participation in ARL drug testing program
- Prior work in hypersonics, aerospace, and propulsion technologies
- Ceramic and metallurgical engineering for high temperature environments
- Defense manufacturing technology development experience
- Prototyping, hardware manufacturing, and rapid design iteration experience
- Experience with NX and SolidWorks
- Experience with Abaqus, COMSOL, Ansys, and Matlab
- Mechanical and electrical design and troubleshooting skills
- Experience presenting work to sponsors and technical audiences
- Materials characterization experience (OM, SEM, EDS, XRD, optical profilometry)
- Working knowledge of vacuum system pumps, controls, electrical requirements, design, and integration
- Preferred degrees: Mechanical, Aerospace, Process, or Materials Science Engineering
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
-
Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
-
Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
