Research Engineer Jobs in Pennsylvania

TDI Technologies is seeking a Mechanical Test & Evaluation Engineer to provide hands-on engineering support to Navy Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD) for laboratory research, testing and analysis of submarine hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) systems. The engineer will support the planning, execution, instrumentation, data collection, analysis, and technical reporting associated with machinery testing in a laboratory research and development environment.

This position is well suited for an early- to mid-career mechanical engineer who enjoys hands-on testing and experimental work and is comfortable moving between laboratory activities, engineering analysis, data processing, and technical documentation. The successful candidate will work with government engineering and technical personnel to develop and execute test plans, collect and organize test data, maintain laboratory machinery and instrumentation, perform measurements of HM&E components, analyze experimental results using MATLAB, and communicate findings through technical reports and other engineering documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Test Planning and Execution

• Develop and support detailed test plans for laboratory testing of HM&E machinery and components.
• Develop and document appropriate test procedures, operating instructions, and safety procedures necessary to conduct laboratory testing safely and effectively.
• Review test objectives, equipment requirements, instrumentation requirements, and expected test results prior to test execution.
• Execute approved test procedures and collect experimental data in accordance with established test plans.
• Monitor test activities and equipment operation to identify unexpected conditions, anomalies, or issues requiring engineering attention.
• Coordinate with engineering and laboratory personnel during test preparation and execution.
• Document test activities, observations, equipment conditions, and relevant test results.

Instrumentation, Data Acquisition, and Measurements

• Configure, operate, maintain, and calibrate laboratory machinery, sensors, and data acquisition (DAQ) hardware and systems.
• Perform measurements of HM&E machinery, components, and associated systems using appropriate engineering measurement techniques and instrumentation.
• Verify instrumentation and DAQ equipment are properly configured and functioning prior to testing.
• Assist with troubleshooting sensors, instrumentation, and DAQ systems when problems are encountered during testing.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of instrumentation configuration, calibration status, and test setup.
• Ensure collected data is complete, accurately identified, and suitable for subsequent analysis.

Data Management and Analysis

• Collect, organize, catalog, and process experimental test data.
• Ensure test data is appropriately structured, labeled, documented, and prepared for model ingestion and preprocessing.
• Review collected data for completeness, consistency, and anomalies.
• Conduct engineering analysis of test results using MATLAB.
• Develop or modify MATLAB scripts, analysis routines, and supporting tools as appropriate to process and evaluate test data.
• Identify trends, relationships, anomalies, and other significant findings within experimental data.
• Compare test results against expected or baseline performance when appropriate.
• Communicate significant findings and data-analysis results to engineering and project personnel.

Technical Reporting

• Prepare technical documentation describing test objectives, procedures, equipment, data collection methods, results, analysis, and conclusions.
• Develop charts, plots, tables, and other engineering presentations of test data and results.
• Maintain clear and traceable documentation of test activities and engineering analyses.
• Support preparation and review of technical reports and other engineering deliverables.
• Present technical findings to engineering personnel and other stakeholders as required.

Laboratory and Engineering Support

• Support the preparation, setup, operation, and teardown of laboratory test equipment and machinery.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and test setups in a safe and operational condition.
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of test equipment, instrumentation, and machinery issues.
• Follow established laboratory, engineering, quality, and safety procedures.
• Work collaboratively with mechanical, electrical, test, laboratory, and other engineering personnel.
• Perform additional engineering analysis and laboratory support activities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited college or university.
• Minimum of three (3) years of engineering experience.
• Experience in laboratory research and development, engineering testing, data acquisition, data processing, and data analysis.
• Experience using MATLAB for engineering data analysis.
• Experience working with laboratory instrumentation, sensors, and/or data acquisition systems.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, test procedures, technical documentation, and equipment specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate engineering data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with engineers, technicians, laboratory personnel, and project management.
• Ability to work in a laboratory environment and perform hands-on engineering activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mechanical or machinery testing.
• Experience developing engineering test plans and procedures.
• Experience with experimental data collection and analysis.
• Experience with laboratory data acquisition (DAQ) systems.
• Experience with sensors, instrumentation, and measurement systems.
• Experience with MATLAB scripting or development of automated data analysis tools.
• Experience with LabVIEW or other laboratory/test automation software.
• Experience supporting naval, maritime, submarine, defense, or other government engineering programs.
• Experience with hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) systems.
• Experience troubleshooting mechanical machinery and laboratory test equipment.
• Familiarity with engineering test and evaluation processes and technical reporting.

Special Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required; must possess or be able to obtain a Secret clearance within 90 days of hire.
• Must have a valid US passport or the ability to obtain one upon position acceptance.
• Due to the nature of our work with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. citizenship is required. Some positions may require the renunciation of any non-U.S. citizenship to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, hybrid engineering position located in the Philadelphia, PA area. The position requires a combination of laboratory and office based engineering activities. The engineer should be comfortable performing hands-on work with machinery, instrumentation, sensors, and data acquisition equipment in a laboratory environment while also performing computer-based engineering analysis and technical documentation. Because the position supports work requiring access to classified information, an active Secret security clearance is required. Candidates with strong mechanical engineering fundamentals and relevant laboratory, testing, instrumentation, or data-analysis experience are encouraged to apply. Experience supporting Navy or defense programs and experience with HM&E systems are highly desirable.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an early- to mid-career mechanical engineer who enjoys applying engineering fundamentals to real-world testing and experimental problems. The candidate should be equally comfortable working with laboratory equipment and engineering data—setting up a test, collecting measurements, troubleshooting instrumentation, analyzing results in MATLAB, and explaining the findings in a clear technical report.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

TDI Technologies, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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