Non-Destructive Inspection Engineer​/Material Scientist; Faculty

Non-Destructive Inspection Engineer/Material Scientist (Faculty)

United States, Pennsylvania, University Park

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student): login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university): login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here.
• FOR ALL OTHER CANDIDATES: click "Apply" and complete the external application process.

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

We are seeking scientists and engineers to join the Polymer Composite Manufacturing Department of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. As part of a technical team engaged in engineering and technology needs, you will support the research and development of new materials, innovative material system designs, and novel fabrication and testing methods. This includes composites (fiber‑reinforced polymers, ceramic matrix composites, metal matrix composites), elastomers, additively manufactured polymers, and ceramics as well as emergent technologies.

The Polymer Composites Fabrication Department focuses on development and optimization of materials processes for research, prototype development, and transition to implementation. Advanced inspection technologies and operational health monitoring represent vital capabilities to achieve and maintain our historical implementations.

These positions can be filled as either a Research and Development Engineer or a non‑tenure Research Faculty. Faculty rank will be commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum requirements:

Master’s degree in an Engineering or Science Discipline and 1 year related experience.

• Contribute to the design, development, implementation, and analysis of technical engineering products, systems, and subsystems.
• Investigate and evaluate practical applicability of scientific theories and engineering principles to develop and improve various engineering systems.
• Identify technical approaches for solving problems and meeting customer/sponsor needs.
• Apply standard practices and techniques in specific situations, correlate data, recognize discrepancies, and follow operations through detailed steps or processes.
• Conduct experiments/tests in the laboratory/field to test, prove, or modify theoretical propositions.
• Initiate or contribute data, analysis, and design for use in technical reports, proposals, papers, or oral/written presentations.
• Manage projects of varying size and scope, including technical elements, budget/schedule implications, and sponsor communication.
• Collaborate with team members, engineers, and scientists to accomplish organizational goals.
• Provide innovative problem‑solving approaches to enhance organizational capabilities.
• Initiate or contribute to business development activities (e.g., white papers, proposals).
• Supervise lower‑level staff and undergraduate students.
• Work with engineers in other technical areas across ARL.
• Develop proposals and projects.

• Materials inspection development and optimization, including nondestructive technique selection, process monitoring optimization, and prototype development.
• Static and fatigue mechanical testing related to structural health monitoring, data analysis, and nondestructive inspection for a range of geometries from material coupons to full‑scale hardware including instrumentation.
• Ability to work in a multi‑disciplinary, team‑oriented culture.
• Proposal and technical writing skills.
• Exceptional problem‑solving skills and creative thinking.

Positions are located on‑site in State College, PA. Questions about flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

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). ARL…