Research Engineer

Location: University Park

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

* CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

* CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

* If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

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.

This position is funded for 12 months; continuation past 12 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The School of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SSET) is recruiting a full-time Research Engineer to support the growth of engineering enrollment, research activities, and our new PhD program. The individual hired for this position will report to SSET Director or designee; support faculty and staff, particularly in our three engineering departments by assisting in planning and implementation of research projects; ensuring the safe operation and maintenance of specialized research equipment and facilities;

and providing training to students performing approved research in the laboratories.

SSET has experienced significant growth in our engineering programs with the launch of the new Ph.D. program in Engineering Systems, the need to support our growing research portfolio, and the anticipated growth of both the undergraduate and graduate population. In addition, with the launch of the Smart Medical Technology Hub in 2026 and the ongoing research through the Smart Home Research Initiative, Center for Signal Integrity, and smaller individual and group initiatives in mechatronics, advanced manufacturing, sensors and smart infrastructure, and AI, plus the ongoing acquisition of new research equipment in the Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering laboratories, this position will play a critical role in addressing SSET's needs.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

* Design, perform, and/or oversee engineering research experiments, tests, and data collection to ensure data integrity, quality control, and protocol compliance

* Manage projects; make substantial contributions to determining feasibility of goals and objectives; responsible for assuring quality, cost effectiveness, and timeliness of assigned projects

* Build prototypes for testing purposes; perform failure analysis, optimization studies, and other investigations

* Review and evaluate results and conclusions of research projects

* Advise faculty, postdocs, students, and staff with design, modification, prototype, processes, analysis procedures, and other engineering solutions

* Assist in writing grant proposals

* Author/co-author on papers, presentations, and reports

* Maintain knowledge with respect to relevant state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and/or systems

Desired experience and skills:

* Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering laboratory operations.

* Experience and/or familiarity with experimental R&D environments in engineering.

* Excellent interpersonal skills, exercising strong organizational skills with an exceptional attention to detail.

* Demonstrable skills in some of the following: laboratory instrumentation, advanced 3D printers, automation systems, data-acquisition systems, software packages such as MATLAB, Lab View, and CAD software.

* Demonstrable skills in data presentation and analysis.

* Experience and training in promoting a safety culture.

Minimum Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field within SSET with a preference for electrical or mechanical engineering, and at least one year of relevant experience.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science
1+ years of relevant experience
Required

Certi…