Mechanical Research and Development Engineer
About The Position
We are searching for a high motivated Mechanical Research and Development Engineer to join our Advanced Design & Analysis Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This role will involve designing, analyzing, and testing structures and systems, including multi-material assemblies, including fiber-reinforced polymer composite structures and other advanced materials. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply. Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes: Support research conducted within Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified environments while safeguarding sensitive technical information and government-furnished data. Participate in technology transition activities, including system integration, operational demonstrations, customer evaluations, manufacturing support, and field implementation. Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies to improve program execution, system performance, reliability, maintainability, and mission effectiveness. Initiate and contribute to business development activities through technical concept development, customer engagement, proposal preparation, Independent Research and Development (IRAD) initiatives, and strategic technology planning. Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers, engineering technologists, engineering support personnel, interns, and students. Maintain technical expertise through continued professional development, participation in technical working groups, awareness of emerging technologies, and engagement with the defense research community.
Requirements
- Finite element analysis (FEA) modeling and structural analysis of multi-material systems
- CAD software, such as SolidWorks, Creo, or NX
- Programming skills (MATLAB/Python)
- Ability to quickly adapt to diverse engineering tasks and changing project priorities
- Demonstrated collaboration within a multidisciplinary team
- Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
- 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
- Abaqus or similar advanced FEA software
- Past success with multi‑material assemblies and integrated system architectures
- Mechanical testing methods and laboratory experiments
- Modeling, subsystem integration, or interface analysis
Responsibilities
- Perform analytical and computational modeling to evaluate system and structural behavior, component interactions, and overall design performance
- Develop detailed mechanical designs and assemblies using mechanical CAD software
- Conduct laboratory testing to validate analytical models
- Flexibly adapt across a variety of technical tasks, including CAD modeling, scripting in MATLAB/Python, analytical modeling, and supporting experimental testing
- Collaborate closely with senior engineers, receiving mentorship in modeling, design methodologies, and interdisciplinary engineering practices
- Support system and subsystem integration efforts by analyzing interfaces, ensuring compatibility, and contributing to the development of fully integrated system architectures
- Perform detailed finite element analysis of multi‑material systems as part of broader design and integration activities, supporting structural evaluation, system modeling, and engineering decision‑making
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Robust retirement plans
- Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
- 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
