Mechanical Engineering Support Specialist

Penn State University•University Park, PA

47d•Onsite

About The Position

We are searching for a Mechanical Engineering Support Specialist to join our Undersea Materials Technology Prototyping Department facility located in Freeport, PA at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We are seeking a skilled ceramic machinist who will play a crucial role in the research and development of advanced ceramic materials. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in precision CNC grinding and a passion for solving complex machining challenges. If you like doing something different every day and if you enjoying tackling new challenges in machine set up, tool pathing, tool selection, and fixturing we want to talk to you. This position may be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non-tenure Research Faculty. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply. You Will: Set up and Operate CNC grinding machines to achieve high-precision finishes on small quantities of ceramic prototype components Design and fabricate custom fixtures to support complex machining tasks, ensuring optimal stability and accuracy during the grinding process Ability to locate sources of supply for advanced tooling and work with tooling vendors to procure Tackle challenging ceramic and hard material grinding tasks by developing and implementing innovative machining strategies and solutions Work collaboratively with research teams to understand project requirements and provide machining expertise Conduct inspections and tests to ensure that machined components meet specified tolerances and quality standards Maintain accurate records of machining processes, materials used, and outcomes to support research documentation and compliance Additional responsibilities for higher level position includes Develop and de-bug tool pathing using MasterCAM or similar software Provide tooling vendors with suggested modifications of tool design and configuration to achieve advanced machining outcomes Interact closely with machine vendors to troubleshoot malfunctions and to overcome machine limitations Use advanced characterization tools to evaluate surface roughness and dimensional discrepancies on machined parts Provide written reports for inclusion in higher level project reports

Requirements

4+ years of experience in precision CNC of ceramics
Fabricate solutions for complex machining tasks, including custom fixturing and tooling
CNC-related topics such as CNC programming, GD&T, work holding, tool selection, inspection, unit conversion, and CNC machine maintenance, safety & best practices
Strong work ethic, communication skills, and creative, can-do attitude
Associate Degree
6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
None
Associate Degree
4+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
None
All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

Nice To Haves

Advanced CNC techniques: five-axis machining, additive/subtractive hybrid CNC, strong CAD/CAM proficiency
Piezoelectric, optical, electronic, carbide and/or refractory materials
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

Responsibilities

Set up and Operate CNC grinding machines to achieve high-precision finishes on small quantities of ceramic prototype components
Design and fabricate custom fixtures to support complex machining tasks, ensuring optimal stability and accuracy during the grinding process
Ability to locate sources of supply for advanced tooling and work with tooling vendors to procure
Tackle challenging ceramic and hard material grinding tasks by developing and implementing innovative machining strategies and solutions
Work collaboratively with research teams to understand project requirements and provide machining expertise
Conduct inspections and tests to ensure that machined components meet specified tolerances and quality standards
Maintain accurate records of machining processes, materials used, and outcomes to support research documentation and compliance
Develop and de-bug tool pathing using MasterCAM or similar software
Provide tooling vendors with suggested modifications of tool design and configuration to achieve advanced machining outcomes
Interact closely with machine vendors to troubleshoot malfunctions and to overcome machine limitations
Use advanced characterization tools to evaluate surface roughness and dimensional discrepancies on machined parts
Provide written reports for inclusion in higher level project reports

Benefits

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.

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