Research and Development Engineer - Signal Processing Engineer

Penn State University•University Park, IL

11d•$92,100 - $174,708•Onsite

About The Position

Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), within the Sensor Analysis and Data Modeling (SADM) Department, seeks Signal Processing Research and Development Engineers. SADM addresses multidisciplinary topics including signal processing, machine learning, and software design, with a focus on sonar systems. The department uses acoustic physics and available data to produce data products and tools supporting military sponsors and national defense. The position is fully onsite in State College, Pennsylvania, and requires periodic travel to remote locations. Engineers collaborate with engineers, scientists, and military personnel; develop and validate prototype algorithms; evaluate algorithm performance, data quality, and novel approaches; support field testing through remote or in-person analysis and troubleshooting; and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders. At the higher level, the role also contributes to publications, white papers, technical memos, and study plans, and performs larger tasks independently or in a team while leading small efforts. ARL supports the Navy, the Intelligence Community, and other federal government customers. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a government security clearance. Employment also requires successful background checks, participation in ARL’s drug testing program, and compliance with applicable electronic and physical monitoring requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science.
For the Intermediate Professional level, at least 2 years of relevant experience; the Professional level requires no prior relevant work experience.
Experience with MATLAB, R, or Python.
Creative problem-solving skills and basic data analysis and signal processing skills.
Ability to absorb a broad range of information from a variety of fields.
Self-motivation and eagerness to learn new technical areas.
Strong written, oral, interpersonal communication, and presentation skills.
U.S. citizenship.
Must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance.
Must complete required background checks and comply with ARL drug testing and electronic and physical monitoring requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with GIS tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, or Google Earth, and familiarity with GIS-related mapping and data-visualization concepts.
Experience with version control and project-tracking tools such as Git and Jira.
Knowledge of undersea systems and sonar technology.
Current eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher; clearance eligibility may be subject to a government background investigation for upgrade, if required.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and military personnel to understand problems from multiple perspectives.
Design, write, and validate prototype algorithms for analyses and data-product generation.
Evaluate algorithm performance, data quality, and the feasibility of novel approaches.
Support field testing with remote or in-person analysis and troubleshooting.
Communicate findings clearly to stakeholders, scientists, and software engineers within ARL and at external sponsors.
For the higher-level position, contribute to publications, white papers, technical memos, and study plans.
For the higher-level position, perform larger tasks independently or as part of a team and lead small efforts.