Mechanical R&D Engineer

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

3d•$140,004 - $265,704•Onsite

About The Position

Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is seeking a highly motivated Mechanical Engineer for the Vehicle Investigation & Cybersecurity Department within the Applied Sustainment Technologies Division. The role is a senior technical and operational leadership position focused on sponsor engagement, military ground vehicle sustainment research, and strengthening ARL’s relationships across the military. It supports research into next-generation sustainment technologies, readiness analytics, vehicle systems resilience, and cyber-secure maintenance capabilities. The successful candidate will bring operational expertise in military ground vehicle operations, experience in sustainment engineering, and a record of developing and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes transitioning military members to apply. The position is fully on-site in State College, Pennsylvania. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a government security clearance. Employees must participate in ARL’s drug testing program and comply with applicable electronic and physical monitoring requirements. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted in certain areas. Depending on the appointment level, the role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science and either 14+ years of relevant experience (Senior Professional) or 19+ years (Principal Professional). The salary range across possible grades is $140,004–$265,704.

Requirements

Senior NCO, Warrant Officer, or Commissioned Officer experience within U.S. military Engineer, Motor Transport, or Ordnance communities.
Previous service as a U.S. Marine Corps logistics officer or comparable operational logistics role.
Experience with the military acquisition process, including requirements development and sustainment integration.
Experience with ground vehicle operations, including vehicle systems and associated IT/logistics support systems.
Experience in automotive maintenance, sustainment engineering, or vehicle lifecycle management.
A record of developing and maintaining sponsor relationships in defense R&D environments.
Ability to communicate complex sustainment challenges and technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science, with 14+ years of relevant experience for Senior Professional or 19+ years for Principal Professional.
Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain a government security clearance.
Must complete required background checks, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with applicable electronic and physical monitoring requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting or advising R&D organizations on vehicle sustainment technologies.
Experience with cyber considerations for vehicle systems, maintenance processes, or diagnostic tools.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and guiding research portfolios.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, logistics, or a related field; military equivalent experience is also considered.
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher.

Responsibilities

Lead business development and sponsor engagement for vehicle sustainment and cybersecurity research portfolios.
Maintain and expand strategic relationships with military stakeholders, especially within the USMC, Army, and joint logistics communities.
Provide subject-matter expertise on military ground vehicle operations, sustainment processes, and enabling IT systems.
Translate operational sustainment challenges into actionable R&D objectives and shape research directions.
Support and guide project teams in vehicle investigation, readiness analytics, cyber-secure maintenance operations, and related technologies.
Mentor staff in sponsor engagement, program execution, and operational sustainment concepts.
Advise on military acquisition pathways and requirements processes relevant to sustainment technologies.
Contribute to proposal development, program planning, and strategic road-mapping for ASTD.