Research Engineer; Physics Department

Position Overview

The Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Department of Physics at Penn State are seeking a Research Engineer – Intermediate in the in‑house electronics design facility. The successful candidate will collaborate on physics and astrophysics projects ranging from satellite and balloon missions to deep underground experiments, working under the guidance of the Detector Development Lead and in partnership with faculty.

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

• Experience with Altium Designer, HDL programming, and programming microcontrollers.
• Familiarity with hardware communication protocols such as I²C and SPI.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science.
• 1+ year(s) of relevant experience.

Employment requires successful completion of a background check in accordance with University policies. No certifications are required.

• Salary range: $68,200.00 – $.
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plans and paid time off; 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible family members.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.