Engineering Technologist, Electrical
About The Position
We are seeking an Engineering Technologist to support research and development activities within our electrical/electronics engineering discipline in the Electrical and Mechanical Solutions Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. In this role, you will apply engineering principles and practices to help develop new concepts, products, and processes for complex electromechanical systems. This position is ideal for a recent graduate with hands-on experience in circuit design, embedded systems, and hardware testing who is eager to grow within a structured engineering team. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
Requirements
- Proficiency in C/C++; familiarity with Python for scripting/automation
- Coursework or project experience with VHDL and FPGA development tools (e.g., Xilinx Vivado/Vitis)
- Basic understanding of schematic capture and PCB layout tools (e.g., Cadence Capture, Allegro PCB)
- Familiarity with circuit simulation software (PSpice, LTSpice, or similar)
- Exposure to lab/test equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter, function generator, network/impedance analyzers) through coursework or lab work
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and standard operating procedures
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment under direct supervision
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Eligible to obtain a government security clearance
- Participate in the ARL drug testing program
- Comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors
Nice To Haves
- Academic or capstone/senior design projects demonstrating electromechanical or embedded systems design
- Familiarity with MATLAB for data analysis or signal processing
- Exposure to RF/microwave systems, antennas, or signal processing concepts
- Involvement in relevant student organizations (e.g., IEEE, robotics club)
- Academic honors (e.g., Dean's List, honor societies)
- Any internship, co-op, lab assistant, or toolroom experience supporting engineering projects
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with project leadership and senior engineering staff on the conceptual design of complex electromechanical systems and subsystems
- Support engineering staff and senior technologists in developing and defining requirements for engineering product designs
- Perform design, development, fabrication, installation, and testing of custom electrical, mechanical, and software subsystems
- Utilize computer-aided design (CAD/EDA) software to develop electrical, mechanical, and/or software products
- Prepare test plans, procedures, reports, and other formal documentation
- Conduct tests on electrical, mechanical, or software subsystems; document results and recommend modifications
- Assist in developing specialized electrical, mechanical, and/or software tools to support testing of complex systems
- Research and evaluate new engineering products and tooling to support project development
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams across the organization throughout all phases of project development
- Maintain and build knowledge of design/analysis tools, test and measurement equipment, languages, and industry products relevant to the discipline
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical coverage
- Dental coverage
- Vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick time)
- 75% tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
