Research Engineering Interns

The Pennsylvania State University

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Penn State University Park Until 8/22/2026 First posted October 14, 2025 Last posted April 20, 2026
Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

  • CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

Approval 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.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Communications and Signal Processing Division of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University is seeking engineering undergraduate interns to work part-time with senior technical staff to research, design, develop, integrate, and test advanced wireless RF communications systems. 

ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

Responsibilities include:

  • Algorithm development and/or software design
  • Develop C/C++ or equivalent code to interface with developed hardware and associated interfaces (SPI, I2C, etc)
  • Integration of Software Defined Radio (SDR) hardware/software components as appropriate
  • Evaluate/develop communication security protocols

Interns pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or Math are preferred.

Interest in the following is required: 

  • Software development and design
  • Signal Processing
  • Digital logic and hardware development 

Preferred Experience include:

  • Computer Networking
  • Communications protocols
  • OSI stack UDP/TCP/IP
  • Familiarity with wireless specifications such as cellular(4G/5G)/Wi-Fi (802.11)
  • FPGA development
  • Microcontroller and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) development
  • MATLAB/LabVIEW modeling and simulation
  • RF principles
  • Embedded software/hardware
  • Wireless/cyber security
  • Assembly language programming
  • Malware Analysis
  • Hardware debugging

This part-time position is located at the University Park campus; relocation is not provided. Selected candidate may work up to 20 hours/week during the academic year and up to 40 hours/week during non-academic times.

ARL at Penn State is an integral part of one of the leading research universities in the nation and serves as a University center of excellence in defense science, systems, and technologies with a focus in naval missions and related areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant 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.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action 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.

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About this role

Summary

Assist in designing and testing wireless RF communication systems, software algorithms, and hardware integration.

Job title

Research Engineering Interns

Experience level

undergraduate

Industry

research and development

Location requirements

Penn State University Park, no relocation, part-time.

Salary

Not specified

Management role

No

Skills & keywords

Required skills

C/C++signal processingdigital logicsoftware development

Preferred skills

computer networkingcommunications protocolsOSÍ stack UDP/TCP/IPFPGA developmentMATLABLabVIEWRF principlesembedded softwarecyber securityassembly languagehardware debugging

Specializations

wireless communicationssignal processinghardware developmentsoftware developmentRF principles
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

University Park, State College, PA, USA

Work arrangement unknown City