Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

Research Engineers conduct research in various fields or specializations of engineering disciplines directed toward investigation, evaluation, and application of engineering theories and principles; apply research theories, principles, and models when conducting experiments and research activities; summarize research results and communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders; assess the scope of research projects and ensure projects are on time and within budget; develop technical documentation.

• Design, perform, and/or oversee engineering experiments, tests, and data collection to ensure data integrity, quality control, and protocol compliance
• Apply an analytical approach to the solution of a wide variety of problems; apply specialized techniques in selecting and evaluating approaches to unforeseen or novel problems
• Demonstrate and apply thorough understanding of engineering methods, research protocols, assessment instruments, and data interpretation
• Manage projects; make substantial contributions to determining feasibility of goals and objectives; responsible for assuring quality, cost effectiveness, and timeliness of assigned projects
• Coordinate activities of engineering functions and encourage exchange of information, ideas, and techniques among various engineering fields
• Build prototypes for testing purposes; perform failure analysis, optimization studies, and other investigations
• Review and evaluate results and conclusions of research projects
• Maintain external research relationships to identify and develop new funding sources
• Advise faculty, postdocs, students, and staff with design, modification, prototype, processes, analysis procedures, and other engineering solutions
• Write or assist in writing grant proposals
• Author/co-author on papers, proposals, presentations, and reports
• Maintain knowledge with respect to relevant state-of-the-art technology, equipment, and/or systems

Level:

– Principal Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Displays mastery of defined skill areas/applications, principles, theories and practices. Evaluates and enhances existing practices. Recognizes emerging trends in area of expertise. Works independently on complex or strategic assignments. Directs and delegates appropriate tasks to others. Implements strategies to ensure achievement of initiatives. Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and deliver to broad audiences. Identifies and implements innovative solutions to important, highly complex strategic and/or operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Validates and pays invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets and funding
– May plan and forecast budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters complex and novel problems
– Applies policies, practices, specialized knowledge, and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations, and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on complex or strategic assignments
– Uses existing practices as guidelines as well as working knowledge to determine specific work methods
– Carries out work activities independently, with supervisor available to resolve problems
– Reviews work of others to verify technical soundness

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and area leads across the University
– Prepares written and/or verbal presentations or proposals on complex issues and delivers to a broad variety of audiences
– Establishes and maintains networks to facilitate successful communication among units

• Comp Grade – 16
• Minimum – $123,200.00
• MidPoint – $157,100.00
• Maximum – $191,000.00

• Applied research
• Data Analysis
• Data Collection
• Experiment design
• Grant writing
• Product design
• Project Management
• Report writing
• Research methods
• Technology assessment