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 .
POSITION SPECIFICS
Your working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This role requires periodic travel to remote locations.
We are searching for a highly motivated Engineering Technologist, Mechanical to join the Materials for Extreme Environments Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. The Materials for Extreme Environments Department develops and evaluates advanced materials, manufacturing processes, and engineering solutions for demanding operational environments. This role will apply established engineering principles and practical technical knowledge to support materials processing, prototype development, experimental equipment, testing, and technology transition. The successful candidate will help translate engineering concepts into functional prototypes, test articles, experimental systems, and validated technical solutions for the U.S. military, and other government customers.
ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.
You will:
Collaborate with engineering staff to plan and execute materials-processing, prototyping, integration, and testing activities
Develop, build, modify, and evaluate experimental equipment, test fixtures, prototypes, and process hardware
Operate and support coating, heat-treatment, surface-preparation, manufacturing, and materials-testing equipment
Develop and interpret engineering drawings, equipment layouts, test procedures, process documentation, and technical specifications
Conduct and document mechanical, thermal, environmental, and surface-property testing
Configure sensors, vacuum hardware, compressed-gas systems, pumps, controls, and data-acquisition equipment
Support machining, welding, additive manufacturing, fabrication, and mechanical assembly activities
Perform materials characterization using microscopy, spectroscopy, profilometry, and other analytical methods
Analyze test results and recommend practical improvements to equipment, processes, fixtures, and experimental methods
Troubleshoot mechanical, process, instrumentation, and equipment-related problems
Maintain proper documentation and traceability of engineering artifacts, test data, and technical deliverables
Support prototype demonstrations, customer evaluations, and technology-transition activities
Prepare technical reports, presentations, drawings, procedures, and other project documentation
Additional responsibilities for higher-level position includes:
Maintain current knowledge of mechanical design methods, fabrication techniques, materials, test equipment, and emerging engineering technologies applicable to the discipline
Ensure proper documentation, traceability, and configuration control of engineering artifacts, test data, and technical deliverables in accordance with organizational and sponsor requirements
Support secure handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Export-Controlled Information, and other sensitive technical data throughout design, fabrication, and testing activities
Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, prototyping methods, and test capabilities in support of mission…