Research and Development Engineer - Signal Processing Engineer
About The Position
Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) seeks motivated Signal Processing Research and Development Engineers for its Sensor Analysis and Data Modeling (SADM) Department. SADM works across signal processing, machine learning, and software design, with a focus on sonar systems. The department uses acoustic physics and available data to develop data products and tools that support military sponsors and national defense. The role is fully onsite in State College, Pennsylvania, and requires periodic travel to remote locations. Employees work with engineers, scientists, and military personnel to understand problems from multiple perspectives; develop and validate prototype algorithms; analyze algorithm performance and data quality; support field testing; and communicate results to stakeholders and sponsors. The position may be filled at the Professional or Intermediate Professional level. Higher-level responsibilities include contributing to publications and technical documents, carrying out larger tasks independently or with a team, and leading small efforts. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a government security clearance. Employment requires successful completion of background checks; ARL employees must also participate in drug testing and comply with monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. The role operates in a secure information environment, and personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted in some areas.
Requirements
- Experience with MATLAB, R, or Python.
- Creative problem-solving skills, along with basic data analysis and signal processing skills.
- Demonstrated 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.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance and successfully complete required background checks.
- For the Intermediate Professional level: a bachelor's degree in engineering or science and at least 2 years of relevant experience.
- For the Professional level: a bachelor's degree in engineering or science; no prior relevant work experience is required.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with geographic information system (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.
- Provide remote or in-person analysis and troubleshooting in support of field testing.
- Communicate findings 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.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Retirement plans.
- Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time.
- 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
