Research Engineer; Physics Department

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Current Penn State employee (faculty, staff, technical service, or student): log in to Workday and complete the internal application process. Do not apply here.
• Current Penn State student (not previously employed by the university) seeking employment: log in to Workday and complete the student application process. Do not apply here.
• All other candidates (external applicants): click "Apply" and complete the external application process.

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

The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics and the Department of Physics at The Pennsylvania State University are seeking to fill a Research Engineer - Intermediate position in the departments' in-house electronics design facility. The successful candidate will work on a variety of collaborative physics and astrophysics projects under the guidance of the Detector Development Lead and in collaboration with faculty in the two departments.

Projects range from satellite- and balloon-based observatories to deep underground experiments, with science goals in high-energy astrophysics, particle astrophysics, and fundamental physics.

The Research Engineer‑Intermediate will assist engineering staff in the Detector Development lab in the development, fabrication, installation, and use of custom circuit boards, electronics systems, and/or firmware. The successful candidate will be a member of a team in the lab which currently includes three staff engineers.

• Assist with the design and execution of hardware, firmware, and software solutions.
• Design printed circuit boards (PCBs).
• Test electronic hardware using tools such as digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and VNAs.
• Install and deploy hardware, firmware, and software systems at integration facilities.
• Assemble flight‑hardened cable assemblies.
• Collaborate with DDL staff and students.
• Communicate with faculty at Penn State and researchers worldwide on physics and astronomy projects.

Preferred but not mandatory skills may include using Altium Designer, HDL programming, programming microcontrollers, and familiarity with common hardware communication protocols such as i2c and SPI.

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science.

1+ years of relevant experience.

Required certifications:
None.

Applications must be submitted electronically and include a cover letter and resume. Applicants should arrange for three reference letters to be submitted to physics apply, indicating the job number and position title in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this position is $68,200.00 – $.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, and substantial paid time off (holidays, vacation, and sick time). A generous 75% tuition discount is available to employees, their spouses, and children.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.