Research And Development Engineer Jobs

Research And Development Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, defense, medical devices, automotive, and consumer electronics, at levels from entry-level to principal and staff engineer, with specializations in product prototyping, systems integration, and process development. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles226+
Top statePennsylvania
Top employerPenn State University
Top cityUniversity Park, PA
Work type49% On-site
Top industryBiotechnology

Showing 5 of 226+ Research And Development Engineer jobs

Research and Development Project Engineer
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Research and Development Project Engineer
Kyocera International, Inc.
San Diego, California
Customer Success
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$79k - $102k/yr
Bachelor's degree in engineering

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Research Operations and Nonclinical Development Manager
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Research Operations and Nonclinical Development Manager
Cartesian Therapeutics
Frederick, Maryland
Clinical Trials
Program Management
Project Management
$90k - $115k/yr
Bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering

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Mechanical Internal Research and Development Sr. Engineer - HOH Fellows | SpouseWorks Fellows | SkillBridge Candidates Only
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Mechanical Internal Research and Development Sr. Engineer - HOH Fellows | SpouseWorks Fellows | SkillBridge Candidates Only
General Dynamics Mission Systems
McLeansville, North Carolina
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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2027 Summer Intern – Research and Development – Vehicle Aerodynamics and Machine Learning
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2027 Summer Intern – Research and Development – Vehicle Aerodynamics and Machine Learning
General Motors (GM)
Warren, Michigan
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
10,000+

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2027 Summer Intern – Research and Development - Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Systems
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2027 Summer Intern – Research and Development - Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Systems
General Motors (GM)
Pontiac, Michigan
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
ML (Machine Learning)
10,000+

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Research And Development Engineer Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Penn State University22
  • Maverick Power20
  • General Motors (GM)17
  • Cook4
  • Motorola Solutions4

Top Industries Hiring

  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
  • Education
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research and development engineer jobs.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, or materials engineering
  • Proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo for design and prototyping work
  • Experience with design of experiments, statistical analysis, and test method development
  • Familiarity with DFMEA, design controls, and product lifecycle management processes
  • Programming skills in MATLAB, Python, or LabVIEW for data acquisition and analysis
  • Hands-on laboratory experience with physical prototyping, testing, and validation cycles

Tips for Your Research And Development Engineer Job Search

Tailor your resume to patent output

Many R&D engineer postings screen for invention disclosures or patent filings. If you contributed to a patent, list it by number and your named role. Employers in deep-tech industries treat this as a direct signal of independent technical contribution.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists research and development engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Match your portfolio to the product stage

R&D roles split sharply between early-stage research and late-stage development. Before applying, confirm whether the team works at TRL 1 through 4 or TRL 5 through 9, then frame your project examples around the stage where your experience is strongest.

Target postings by funded program or contract

Defense and aerospace R&D roles are often tied to specific SBIR grants or government contracts. Searching job descriptions for program names or contract numbers helps you assess budget stability and how long the role is likely to exist before the next funding cycle.

Prepare a technical deep-dive for the design review stage

Most R&D engineer interviews include a design review or whiteboard session on a past project. Walk through your decision rationale, trade studies you ran, and what failed before the final design. Hiring managers weight methodology over outcome.

Negotiate start date around prototype handoff windows

R&D teams frequently delay onboarding when a prototype is mid-cycle because ramping a new hire mid-build disrupts continuity. If an offer arrives during a quiet phase between milestones, use that timing to negotiate a stronger start package rather than pushing for a higher base.

Research And Development Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most research and development engineers?

The companies hiring the most research and development engineers right now include Penn State University, Maverick Power, and General Motors (GM), with the largest share of openings in Pennsylvania, California, and Michigan, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially active in defense, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

How many research and development engineer jobs are remote?

About 51% of research and development engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the role skews more on-site than most engineering disciplines because of hands-on lab and prototyping requirements. Sub-areas most likely to offer remote flexibility include software-focused R&D, data analysis, and simulation-heavy roles that don't require physical test equipment access.

How do you become a research and development engineer?

Most research and development engineers start with a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, then gain hands-on exposure through internships, co-ops, or university research labs. Building a portfolio of project work that shows design iteration, testing, and problem-solving is critical. Many roles in specialized industries prefer candidates with a master's degree or direct experience in the relevant product domain.

Can you get hired as a research and development engineer with little experience?

Entry-level R&D engineering roles do exist, and employers filling them tend to prioritize candidates who have completed capstone design projects, senior theses, or undergraduate research with a faculty advisor. Highlighting lab skills, specific instrumentation you've operated, and any prototype you built from concept to test report helps compensate for limited professional experience in competitive applicant pools.

What does the research and development engineer interview process look like?

The process typically begins with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical phone interview covering fundamentals in your engineering discipline. Later rounds usually include a take-home design challenge or a live whiteboard session where you walk through a past project in detail, including your trade-off decisions and test results. Final rounds often involve meeting cross-functional partners from manufacturing, quality, or product management.

Where can I find and apply to research and development engineer jobs?

You can find and apply to research and development engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your engineering discipline and experience level, then apply directly to each opening that fits.

See All 226+ Research And Development Engineer Jobs

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