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. ​POSITION SPECIFICS​We are searching for a motivated Materials Research and Development Engineer to join our Electronic Materials and Devices Department (EMDD) at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. This role will directly support research and development (R&D) efforts in the areas of electronic materials growth/deposition, device fabrication, materials characterization, electrical testing, and equipment maintenance/upkeep.

EMDD is a vertically integrated lab with key areas of focus including wide/ultrawide bandgap semiconductors, electronic devices, ceramics, and other functional materials. This role will directly support the development of manufacturing processes for next-generation semiconductor materials and devices to enable improved electrical performance and capabilities.

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

You will:

Research materials growth and deposition methods

Run furnaces and reactors and monitor materials growth and deposition processes

Configure furnaces/reactors and hardware for vacuum systems

Perform equipment maintenance and troubleshooting

Characterize materials and devices (e.g., microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrical testing, etc.)Analyze characterization and testing data Create project summaries and write technical reports

Plan project tasks and provide instructions to other staff members and students

Collaborate with engineers and research faculty to write proposals, develop budgets, and prepare Statements of Work (SOWs)
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:

Conduct independent and collaborative research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to solve complex scientific and engineering challenges supporting Department of Defense sponsors and national security missions

Investigate, evaluate, and apply established and emerging engineering principles, scientific methodologies, and advanced technologies to develop innovative technical solutions

Plan, perform, and lead analytical studies, modeling and simulation, laboratory experimentation, field testing, and prototype demonstrations to validate engineering concepts and system performance

Design, develop, integrate, analyze, and evaluate complex hardware, software, embedded systems, sensors, communications systems, electromechanical systems, or other mission-critical technologies within assigned technical disciplines

Apply systems engineering principles throughout the project lifecycle, including requirements development, architecture definition, design trade studies, integration, verification, validation, risk management, and configuration management

Develop experimental plans, test procedures, data collection methodologies, and performance metrics; analyze results to identify technical issues, validate assumptions, and recommend design improvements

Required Skills/Experience areas include:  Vacuum systems/hardware Materials…