Research And Development Engineer Jobs in Hawaii
Research And Development Engineer jobs in Hawaii are concentrated in defense technology, ocean science, and aerospace, with steady demand at levels from entry-level associate engineer to senior principal. Most hiring clusters in Honolulu and the broader Oahu corridor, with additional activity in Kailua-Kona and Hilo tied to astronomy, renewable energy, and marine research. Employers with a lasting presence including Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, and the University of Hawaii system regularly post openings for specialists in systems engineering, materials science, and energy research. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
The Office of Research Services (ORS) at the University of Hawai'i (UH) is the system-wide office responsible for the stewardship of all externally-funded research and training activities. With over $734 million in extramural funding received during FY 2025, the University’s research portfolio has rapidly expanded over the past several years. In collaboration with leadership across the University, the ORS Director provides leadership to a team of over 46 staff members and develops strategies to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of an important array of systems and processes to support sponsored research. The ORS Director will work collaboratively with research administration leadership to implement a new Research Enterprise system to replace the current disparate systems, with an emphasis on establishing more efficient business processes for proposal routing, award tracking, post-award management, subaward management, effort reporting, and project close-out.
Duties and Responsibilities
(NOTE: ** denotes Essential Functions)
- **Provides overall leadership and direction for the UH Office of Research Services with the overall goal of continuously improving systems to support the University’s sponsored research portfolio in an increasingly competitive grant/contract environment while ensuring compliance with the ever-increasing regulatory landscape.
- **Oversees ORS Contracts and Grants Administration Section to ensure successful review and submission of proposals to funding agencies, and ensure successful acceptances of extramural awards on behalf of the UH system, and successful negotiation of award terms and conditions.
- **Oversees ORS Extramural Funds Accounting Section (including Fiscal Management and Financial Services) to ensure successful administration on project accounts and timely and accurate reimbursements, cash management, closeouts, and collection activities.
- **Oversees ORS Financial Compliance Section (including the University’s Annual Office of Management and Budget's Single Audit) to ensure successful sponsor financial audits, site visits and desk reviews, and effort certifications. Ensures ORS Financial Compliance Section is in compliance with financial and administrative requirements over extramural funding, ensures successful administration for UH’s internal control program over extramural funding, and ensures compliance with conducting subrecipient monitoring activities and other investigations as requested.
- **Responsible for the development and maintenance of policies and procedures that conform to federal and state laws and University policies for the effective management of extramural contracts and grants.
- **Serve as the source for interpretation and application of federal laws and regulations governing contracts and grants as well as other terms and conditions imposed by any sponsor.
- **Responsible for providing or coordinating the systemwide oversight for assuring fiscal compliance with all statutory requirements as well as other contractual terms and conditions that may be imposed by extramural sponsors.
- **Maintain, modify and continuously improve the financial management support systems and system of internal controls to meet federal criteria and external audit standards.
- **Devise ways and means to effectively and efficiently facilitate the work of its client group, which includes all University faculty who prepare proposals for extramurally funded research and training contracts and grants, and the related staff who are involved with financial management for these awards.
- **Maintain a systemwide communications network for the dissemination of essential information relating to the management of extramural awards, and provides periodic training in these matters to all personnel at all University campuses and programs.
- **Provide overall guidance and direction to the Managers within ORS to accomplish systemwide goals and objectives.
- **Responsible for providing leadership and support for ORS to successfully implement a new research enterprise system and develop the associated business processes. The modules that ORS are directly responsible for include proposal submission, award tracking, effort reporting, post-award management, subaward management, and project close-out. The Director must also work closely with other system level offices to ensure that the new research enterprise system communicates with other UH systems.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Professional Work Experience
- Possession of a baccalaureate degree in business administration, finance, management, higher education administration, public administration, political science, or related field and 10 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for senior/managerial position of a major governmental subunit or large, private financial organization involving multi-task business and finance operations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of innovative and state-of-the-art principles, concepts, emerging theories, the current federal and state laws and associated rules, regulations and interpretations and systems associated with senior/managerial position of a major governmental subunit or large, private financial organization involving multi-task business and finance operations.
- Demonstrated ability to develop short-and long-term plans of actions, understand problems from a broad perspective, use creative reasoning to discern broad underlying principles and issues when problem solving.
- Demonstrated written and verbal mastery in presenting ideas, theories, issues and models clearly and accurately using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation and provide long-term direction and leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, and individuals.
- Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software
- For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Supplemental Minimum Qualifications
- Experience as a leader/manager at a major research organization or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, private and higher education institutional rules and regulations especially as it relates to extramural award requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, private and higher education institutional rules and regulations especially as it relates to extramural award requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- Demonstrated ability to work well with faculty, administrative leadership and staff.
- Exceptional ability to foster relationships with external parties, including a range of government, business, and community organizations and representatives.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively present ideas, both in writing and orally, in an understandable, non-technical manner, with internal and external constituencies.
- Well-developed conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to identify a problem, develop a solution and execute corrective action, either in cooperation with others or independently.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective new organizational processes and improve ineffective processes, gaining organizational acceptance through basic change management skills.
- Ability to function successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.
Desirable Qualifications
- A Master’s Degree in the areas of business administration, finance, management, higher education administration, public administration, political science, or a related discipline.
- Understanding of business and government practices in Hawaii, nationally, and in the international arena.
- Knowledge of state government fund accounting, federal contract and grant regulations, cost accounting, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and automated financial management systems for large, government type operations.
- Knowledge of University of Hawaii financial management systems, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii financial management systems, and University organizational and operating structures.
To Apply:
. Required documents include: (1) cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications; (2) resume; (3) the names and contact information of at least three professional references; and (4) transcripts showing degree and coursework to date appropriate to the position (original official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.) NOTE: Please create a new account if this is your first time applying for a position using NEOGOV.
Inquiries:
Victoria Rivera; riveravg@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
Description
The Office of Research Services (ORS) at the University of Hawai'i (UH) is the system-wide office responsible for the stewardship of all externally-funded research and training activities. With over $734 million in extramural funding received during FY 2025, the University’s research portfolio has rapidly expanded over the past several years. In collaboration with leadership across the University, the ORS Director provides leadership to a team of over 46 staff members and develops strategies to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of an important array of systems and processes to support sponsored research. The ORS Director will work collaboratively with research administration leadership to implement a new Research Enterprise system to replace the current disparate systems, with an emphasis on establishing more efficient business processes for proposal routing, award tracking, post-award management, subaward management, effort reporting, and project close-out.
Duties and Responsibilities
(NOTE: ** denotes Essential Functions)
- **Provides overall leadership and direction for the UH Office of Research Services with the overall goal of continuously improving systems to support the University’s sponsored research portfolio in an increasingly competitive grant/contract environment while ensuring compliance with the ever-increasing regulatory landscape.
- **Oversees ORS Contracts and Grants Administration Section to ensure successful review and submission of proposals to funding agencies, and ensure successful acceptances of extramural awards on behalf of the UH system, and successful negotiation of award terms and conditions.
- **Oversees ORS Extramural Funds Accounting Section (including Fiscal Management and Financial Services) to ensure successful administration on project accounts and timely and accurate reimbursements, cash management, closeouts, and collection activities.
- **Oversees ORS Financial Compliance Section (including the University’s Annual Office of Management and Budget's Single Audit) to ensure successful sponsor financial audits, site visits and desk reviews, and effort certifications. Ensures ORS Financial Compliance Section is in compliance with financial and administrative requirements over extramural funding, ensures successful administration for UH’s internal control program over extramural funding, and ensures compliance with conducting subrecipient monitoring activities and other investigations as requested.
- **Responsible for the development and maintenance of policies and procedures that conform to federal and state laws and University policies for the effective management of extramural contracts and grants.
- **Serve as the source for interpretation and application of federal laws and regulations governing contracts and grants as well as other terms and conditions imposed by any sponsor.
- **Responsible for providing or coordinating the systemwide oversight for assuring fiscal compliance with all statutory requirements as well as other contractual terms and conditions that may be imposed by extramural sponsors.
- **Maintain, modify and continuously improve the financial management support systems and system of internal controls to meet federal criteria and external audit standards.
- **Devise ways and means to effectively and efficiently facilitate the work of its client group, which includes all University faculty who prepare proposals for extramurally funded research and training contracts and grants, and the related staff who are involved with financial management for these awards.
- **Maintain a systemwide communications network for the dissemination of essential information relating to the management of extramural awards, and provides periodic training in these matters to all personnel at all University campuses and programs.
- **Provide overall guidance and direction to the Managers within ORS to accomplish systemwide goals and objectives.
- **Responsible for providing leadership and support for ORS to successfully implement a new research enterprise system and develop the associated business processes. The modules that ORS are directly responsible for include proposal submission, award tracking, effort reporting, post-award management, subaward management, and project close-out. The Director must also work closely with other system level offices to ensure that the new research enterprise system communicates with other UH systems.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Professional Work Experience
- Possession of a baccalaureate degree in business administration, finance, management, higher education administration, public administration, political science, or related field and 10 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for senior/managerial position of a major governmental subunit or large, private financial organization involving multi-task business and finance operations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills, and abilities as indicated.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of innovative and state-of-the-art principles, concepts, emerging theories, the current federal and state laws and associated rules, regulations and interpretations and systems associated with senior/managerial position of a major governmental subunit or large, private financial organization involving multi-task business and finance operations.
- Demonstrated ability to develop short-and long-term plans of actions, understand problems from a broad perspective, use creative reasoning to discern broad underlying principles and issues when problem solving.
- Demonstrated written and verbal mastery in presenting ideas, theories, issues and models clearly and accurately using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation and provide long-term direction and leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, and individuals.
- Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software
- For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Supplemental Minimum Qualifications
- Experience as a leader/manager at a major research organization or equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, private and higher education institutional rules and regulations especially as it relates to extramural award requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state, private and higher education institutional rules and regulations especially as it relates to extramural award requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- Demonstrated ability to work well with faculty, administrative leadership and staff.
- Exceptional ability to foster relationships with external parties, including a range of government, business, and community organizations and representatives.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively present ideas, both in writing and orally, in an understandable, non-technical manner, with internal and external constituencies.
- Well-developed conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to identify a problem, develop a solution and execute corrective action, either in cooperation with others or independently.
- Demonstrated ability to establish effective new organizational processes and improve ineffective processes, gaining organizational acceptance through basic change management skills.
- Ability to function successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.
Desirable Qualifications
- A Master’s Degree in the areas of business administration, finance, management, higher education administration, public administration, political science, or a related discipline.
- Understanding of business and government practices in Hawaii, nationally, and in the international arena.
- Knowledge of state government fund accounting, federal contract and grant regulations, cost accounting, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and automated financial management systems for large, government type operations.
- Knowledge of University of Hawaii financial management systems, Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii financial management systems, and University organizational and operating structures.
To Apply:
. Required documents include: (1) cover letter indicating how you satisfy the minimum and desirable qualifications; (2) resume; (3) the names and contact information of at least three professional references; and (4) transcripts showing degree and coursework to date appropriate to the position (original official transcripts will be required at the time of hire.) NOTE: Please create a new account if this is your first time applying for a position using NEOGOV.
Inquiries:
Victoria Rivera; riveravg@hawaii.edu
EEO, Clery Act, ADA
Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/
See All 13 Research And Development Engineer Jobs in Hawaii
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Find JobsResearch And Development Engineer Jobs by City in Hawaii
Where Hawaii roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research And Development Engineer Job Market in Hawaii
A snapshot from current Hawaii openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Hawaii system6
- Amentum1
- FINN Partners1
- Kaiser Permanente1
- University of Wyoming1
Top Industries Hiring
- Education5
- Non-Profit & Social Services1
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
What Hawaii Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research and development engineer jobs across Hawaii.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, applied science, or a directly related technical discipline
- Demonstrated experience designing, testing, and iterating on research prototypes or engineering systems
- Familiarity with Hawaii's defense or ocean research environments and applicable federal contracting standards
- Proficiency with CAD, simulation software, or data analysis tools relevant to the engineering specialty
- Active or eligibility for U.S. security clearance, required by many Hawaii defense and government contractors
- Strong technical documentation skills including test reports, research proposals, and engineering specifications
Research And Development Engineer Jobs in Hawaii: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research and development engineer in Hawaii?
Most Hawaii employers require at least a bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or a related engineering discipline, with many defense and research positions preferring a master's or doctoral degree. Hawaii does not issue a state license specific to R&D engineering roles, but Professional Engineer licensure through the Hawaii Board of Engineers, Architects, Surveyors, and Landscape Architects strengthens candidacy for senior positions. Clearance eligibility is a practical requirement at many of the state's largest hiring organizations.
Which companies hire research and development engineers in Hawaii?
Hawaii research and development engineer roles are posted by University of Hawaii system, Amentum, and FINN Partners and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hawaii's concentration of federal defense contracts and ocean research institutions means a significant share of openings come from government contractors and university-affiliated research centers.
Which Hawaii cities have the most research and development engineer jobs?
Honolulu, Hawaii, and Ford Island have the most research and development engineer openings in Hawaii. Honolulu drives the largest share given its dense cluster of defense contractors, federal agencies, and the University of Hawaii's main campus, while Hilo and Kailua-Kona draw roles tied to Pacific International Center for High Technology Research and the observatories and renewable energy projects on the Big Island.
Are there remote research and development engineer jobs in Hawaii?
Yes, but they're rare. About 20% of research and development engineer openings tied to Hawaii are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting the hands-on lab, prototype, and field-testing demands that define most R&D roles in the state. Software-intensive R&D work, such as modeling, simulation, and data analysis, accounts for most of the remote-eligible share.
How can I get hired as a research and development engineer in Hawaii with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to internship and co-op programs run by Hawaii's defense contractors and research institutions, particularly Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, and the University of Hawaii's research labs, which regularly onboard new graduates into associate engineer roles. Adjacent roles such as lab technician, test engineer, or research assistant serve as practical bridges. Building a portfolio of capstone or independent research projects and pursuing Professional Engineer licensure candidacy through Hawaii's licensing board signals seriousness to hiring managers reviewing early-career applicants.
Where can I find and apply to research and development engineer jobs in Hawaii?
You can find and apply to research and development engineer jobs in Hawaii on Migrate Mate, which lists current Hawaii openings. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and specialization, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
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