Materials Research and Development Engineer

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Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .

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POSITION SPECIFICS ​

We are searching for a motivated Materials Research and Development Engineer to join the Polymer Composite Manufacturing Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We specialize in developing innovative and affordable technology solutions than can be implemented and sustained by our customers. This role will support various research activities throughout the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Engineering (AMME) Division including manufacturing, characterization, and design of polymers and fiber-reinforced polymer composites, elastomers, ceramic matrix composites, and/or multi-material structures.

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You will:

Support the research, design, development, and fabrication of advanced polymer and composite structures for defense and industrial applications

Perform and support fabrication, characterization, testing, and evaluation activities while ensuring technical quality and accuracy

Apply sound engineering judgment, critical thinking, and attention to detail to solve technical challenges and support project objectives

Contribute to white papers, technical proposals, project plans, customer meetings, and other business development initiatives

Lead and manage technical tasks, proposals, and research projects while serving as a Task Lead or Principal Investigator, as appropriate

Present technical findings, project updates, and recommendations to sponsors, customers, and other stakeholders

Develop and maintain test plans, procedures, bills of materials, technical reports, presentations, and other formal project documentation

Execute assigned work in accordance with written and verbal instructions while proactively identifying and communicating technical issues and risks

Provide regular project status updates and technical progress reports to Principal Investigators, project leadership, and engineering staff

Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals and technical milestones

Demonstrate initiative by seeking guidance, sharing knowledge, and engaging with supervisors and team members to ensure project success

Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant laboratory environment while adhering to established safety procedures and best practice

Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

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

Required Skills/Experience areas include:

Polymer structure-property relationships and the ability to produce new thermoset materials with specific properties

Thermoset elastomer development

Process development of prototype structures

Past success utilizing a wide range of materials characterization techniques including mechanical property testing, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and chemical analysis

Understanding of relationships between composition, microstructure, processing, and material properties

Polymer processing and characterization methods

Testing and characterization methods for composite materials

Project engineering or management

Past success providing ideas in written form for clear comprehension

Successful collaborations in multi-disciplinary, team-oriented cultures

Preferred Skills/Experience areas include:

Coatings, adhesives, and fiber-reinforced composites

Leading projects and working with customers/sponsors

Developing new proposals and projects

Past success working on defense projects

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

Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as R&D Engineer - Materials (ARL) - Principal Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
19+ years of relevant experience
Required Certifications:
None

If filled as R&D Engineer - Materials (ARL) - Advanced Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
5+ years of relevant experience
Required Certifications:
None

If filled as R&D Engineer - Materials (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires:
Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
14+ years of relevant experience
Required Certifications:
None

ARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website at www.arl.psu.edu .

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):
Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $121,704.00 - $265,704.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

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. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page .

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Ac