Mechanical Engineer/Material Scientist

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

We are searching for scientists and engineers to join our Materials Design and Optimization Division of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. ARL/Penn State's purpose is to develop innovative solutions to challenging national problems in support of the Navy, DoD, and Intel communities engineering and technology needs. The Materials Design and Optimization Division has a decades long reputation of excellence and demonstrated history of developing systems and technologies that are currently in use by the US Navy and industry. To maintain this capability we are seeking individuals with knowledge across a range of competencies including Design and Analysis, Process Development and Optimization, and Characterization and Testing. You will support the research and development of new materials, innovative material system designs, and novel fabrication and testing methods covering a wide range of material systems including composites (fiber-reinforced polymers, ceramic matrix composites, metal matrix composites), elastomers, additively manufactured polymers, and ceramics as well as emergent technologies. We seek skills/experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Computational design and analysis with tools such as Abaqus, Ansys, NX, Solidworks, and Matlab,
• Materials process development and optimization
• Materials selection, process optimization, and hands-on prototype skills
• Mechanical testing, data analysis, and nondestructive inspection for a range of geometries from material coupons to full-scale hardware including instrumentation

As a member of the Materials Design and Optimization team you will:

• Use accepted methods and techniques to assist with the design, development, implementation, and analysis of technical engineering products, systems, and subsystems,
• Contribute data/findings for use in technical reports, documents, or oral/written presentations, and
• Interact in a collaborative manner with other team members, engineers, and scientists to accomplish organizational goals; may provide ideas to improve efficiency at group.

This position can be filled at the professional, intermediate professional or advanced professional level, depending on education and experience. Minimally requires a Bachelor's Degree in an Engineering or Science discipline for the professional level. Additional experience and/or education are required for higher level positions. A Master's Degree preferred.

Requirements include:

• Understand basic engineering principles and be able to apply them to real-world problems
• Be comfortable working in a team environment
• Have excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills

Additional responsibilities for the intermediate professional level include:

• Investigate and evaluate practical applicability of scientific theories and engineering principles basic to the development and improvement of various engineering systems
• Apply standard practices and techniques in specific situations, correlate data, recognize discrepancies in results
• Initiate or contribute data/analysis/design for use in technical reports, documents, proposals, or oral/written presentations, primarily related to communications
• Perform engineering tasks of a larger scope and lead specific engineering tasks within the project scope
• Interact in a collaborative manner with other team members, engineers, and scientists to accomplish organizational goals; provide ideas to improve efficiency at group level; may network beyond own technical peer group

Additional responsibilities for the advanced professional level include:

• Supervise the work of lower level staff and undergraduate students
• Assist in concept development and participate in the design analyses of engineering systems independently evaluating, selecting, and applying scientific or engineering procedures and techniques to assignments
• technical approach for solving problems and meeting customer/grantor needs,
• Plan and perform tasks of a larger scope and lead specific tasks within the project scope; assemble research team members
• Author/co-author papers, proposals, presentations and reports
• Make significant contributions to technical proposal preparation and/or presentations
• Mentor assigned staff in the development of technical, project, and business development skills

Preferred skills/experience areas include:

• Active government security clearance

Your working location can be hybrid on-site/work from home located in State College. ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a University center of excellence in defense science, systems, and technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas.

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

You will be subject to a government security investigation, and you must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen.

ARL is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; we believe this is central to our success as a Department of Defense designated University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). We are at our best when we draw on the talents of all parts of society, and our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are part of our workforce.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.

The pay range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: