{"id":112705,"url":"https://alion.io/job/psu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer","title":"Mechanical Research and Development Engineer","company":{"id":37673,"name":"Pennsylvania State University","domain":"psu.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/psu-edu","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":77,"open_postings":744,"ghost_share":0.378,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":38,"computed_at":"2026-10-20T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Robotics","role_family":"Robotics","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["University Park, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":92100,"max":174708,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":174708},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Office","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-27T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-27","last_verified_at":"2026-10-19T23:43:27Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":85,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":1,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":85},"description":"APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:\nCURRENT 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. \n\nCURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, pleaselogin to Workday to complete thestudent application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.\n\nIf you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.\n\nApproval 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.\nPOSITION SPECIFICS\nWe are searching for a Mechanical Research and Development Engineer to join the Expeditionary Manufacturing and Repair Department at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State. We are seeking individuals with knowledge across a range of competencies including Design and Analysis, Model and Simulation, Process Development and Optimization, and Characterization and Testing. The successful candidate will support research and development of new materials, innovative material system designs, and novel fabrication and testing methods covering a wide range of material systems including ceramics, metallics, and ceramic/metal matrix composites.\nARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.\nYou will:\nProvide input to and assist with sample production as well as Cold Spray process support equipment setup, design and assembly\n\nPerform fabrication/machining/characterization/mechanical testing of materials in support of projects\n\nMeet with faculty and staff engineers to define the scope of task requirements and schedule constraints, communicate with engineers and project managers to provide progress reports and facilitate the identification of resources needed to accomplish the task/project\n\nPerform daily specimen and coupon fabrication operations and fabrication of facility and test equipment\n\nDocument process parameters and processes\n\nOperate and maintain Cold Spray, Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing and Wire Arc Direct Energy Deposition systems which include both stationary and portable robotics\n\nInspect, test, and calibrate equipment as directed\n\nPerform facility maintenance and repair of capital and test equipment in support of various projects\n\nAssist senior technical/engineering staff in gathering, compiling, and archiving test data in the laboratory or in the field\n\nDevelop documentation of task procedures and process evaluation\n\nRequired Skills/Experience areas include:\nBachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, or Engineering Technology Discipline and 4+ years related experience\n\nStrong foundation in machining including CNC and Manual Machining\n\nPast success using different types of materials and processes, repair and maintenance technology, robotics, scheduling, logistics, and program/job planning\n\nUnderstanding of mechanical and electrical systems\n\nUnderstanding of how to work in an industrial environment\n\nLaboratory testing and ability to follow test procedures and standards\n\nWelding\n\nSheet metal fabrication\n\nElectrical wiring (AC and DC)\n\nLaboratory testing and ability to follow test procedures and standards\n\nPast success interpreting and applying geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)\n\nGeneral equipment maintenance and routine preventative maintenance\n\nMachine shop setting/ lab safety practices\n\nSuccess in a technical environment, where various forms of communication and organizational skills were crucial to be effective\n\nDemonstrated ability to work through problems, using proper steps to define and formulate ideas to reach a solution\n\nMicrosoft Office\n\nPreferred skills/experience areas include:\nAdditive manufacturing and/or Cold Spray\n\nRobotic systems and programming\n\nWorking understanding of Navy Shipyard operations\n\nUnderstanding of Navy materials and manufacturing processes as well as Navy material repair techniques including Cold Spray, welding, electroplating, etc.\n\nKnowledge of CAD/CAM\n\nMechanical design and drafting\n\nAdditive manufacturing\n\nCurrent eligibility for access to classified information at the Secret level or higher and may be subject to a government background investigation to upgrade clearance eligibility, if required\n\nYour working location will be fully on-site located in State College, PA. This this position will require periodic travel to remote locations in support of testing as part of a team of researchers, engineers, technologists, and support specialists.\nMINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\n2+ years of relevant experience\nRequired Certifications:\nNone\n\nIf filled as R&D Engineer - Mechanical (ARL) - Professional, this position requires:\nBachelor's Degree - Engineering or Science\nNo prior relevant work experience required\nRequired Certifications:\nNoneARL’s purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Intel Community (IC), and other federal government customers.\nFOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our website atwww.arl.psu.edu.\nBACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES\nEmployment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL):\nEmployees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.SALARY & BENEFITS\nThe salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $92,100.00 - $174,708.00.Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure\nPenn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.\nCAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS\nPursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.\nEEO IS THE LAW\nPenn 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.\nFederal Contractors Labor Law Poster\nPA State Labor Law Poster\nPenn State Policies\nCopyright Information\nHotlines","description_format":"text","description_chars":7924,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Hybrid work","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Biotechnology","Education","Science & Engineering","STEM Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-27T00:00:00Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-08-26T23:32:03Z"},{"event":"reopen","at":"2026-08-29T22:52:35Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":15,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.536,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":85,"expected_fill_days":38,"reasons":["conf:6","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-20T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":174708,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/psu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/psu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-20T09:28:41Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":10285,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-21T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":37673},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=37673"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fpsu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fpsu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fpsu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/psu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fpsu-mechanical-research-and-development-engineer"}]}