Careers

Research Engineer I, II, or III

Apply now Job no: 505691
Position type: Full-Time 12-Month
Department: 194000 - Raspet
Location: Main Campus - Starkville, MS
Categories: Professional
Position Open Date:

Position Function:

Raspet is seeking a Research Engineer. The exact title and rank will depend on the candidate's education and experience.

Salary Grade:  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

Mississippi State University's Raspet Flight Research Laboratory (RFRL) is a historic, nationally recognized leader in the field of experimental aviation research. Founded in 1948, Raspet stands out as one of the University's most long standing and prominently established research entities with a 70-year history of excellence. True to its heritage, today Raspet continually advances modern concepts in experimental aviation through the research, development, testing, and evaluation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and their associated technologies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Engineer I
1. Using accepted methods and techniques, solves well-defined problems and performs specific and limited portions of broader projects, under technical guidance of an experienced engineer.
2. Applies standard practices and techniques in specific situations, adjusts and correlates data, recognizes discrepancies in results, and follows operations through a series of related detailed steps or processes.
3. Defines and improves practices from experiences on small projects.
4. Conducts experiments/tests in the laboratory field that include taking measurements and recording observations, collecting, compiling, and processing data.
5. Contributes data/findings for use in reports, documents, or oral/written presentations.
6. Interacts in a collaborative manner with other team members to accomplish organizational goals. May provide ideas to improve efficiency at group level.
7. Networks primarily within own technical peer group.
8. In the process of learning methods for planning, including assessment of cost, scope, and schedule against plan.
9. No defined role in identifying/securing research funding; however, successful performance of project related tasks contribute to on-going funding efforts.
10. Performs related duties as required.


Engineer II
1. Performs work that involves conventional types of plans, investigations, systems, structures, or equipment with relatively few complex features or for which there are precedents.
2. Performs tasks/projects of a larger scope.
3. May lead specific tasks within the project scope.
4. Scopes task and develops approaches for moderately difficult tasks.
5. Takes responsibility for assuring quality, cost effectiveness, and timeliness for small projects.
6. Assists in preparation of reports, papers, presentations, new proposals, etc., and may collaborate on some proposals.
7. Presents papers at technical meetings.
8. Continues to enhance capabilities for project planning, including assessment of cost, scope, and schedule against plan.
9. Implements new systems/approaches for moderately difficult tasks/projects.
10. Establishes networks in internal peer group; starts becoming part of identifiable external peer network.
11. Interacts in a collaborative manner with other team members to accomplish organizational goals.
12. Provides ideas to improve efficiency at group level. Participates in procurement of additional/new funding through contributions to technical proposal preparation and/or presentations.
13. Contributes to positive co-workers/customers/investigators relationships through efficient interaction on current grants/projects.


Engineer III
1. Manages multiple or significant projects which may require the use of sophisticated project planning techniques.
2. Plans, schedules, conducts, or coordinates detailed phases of the work of a major project or in a total project of moderate scope.
3. Makes substantial contributions to determining feasibility of goals/objectives.
4. May evaluate proposed or ongoing projects.
5. Interfaces with client/customer project managers and MSU research/engineering management for existing or proposed projects.
6. Creates opportunities to enhance technical methodology or content through expansion of existing, or development of, new efforts.
7. May extend technology into new application areas.
8. Contributes or leads I major intellectual development activities.
9. Chairs sessions at technical meetings; gives invited papers; participates in external seminars, workshops, professional societies and committees.
10. Provides innovative problem-solving approaches to enhance organizational capabilities.
11. Uses peer network to expand technical capabilities and identify new research opportunities.
12. Understands broad strategic objectives and contributes to them.
13. Nurtures and maintains relationships with major customers/grantors of external research and development grant funding.
14. Identifies grant/project extensions and persuades customers/grantors to fund; impacts customer decisions and strategies.
15. May initiate new project concepts and seek funding; develops technical proposals and makes presentations to potential customers/grant sponsors.

Minimum Qualifications:

Research Engineer I B. S. Engineering Less than one year in a related area

Research Engineer II B. S. Engineering Two years professional experience in a related area; requires two years at previous level or equivalent

Research Engineer III B. S. Engineering Four years professional experience in a related area – requires two years at previous level or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Engineer I
1. Knows and effectively uses the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of a particular field of specialization.
2. Continues development of technical expertise and knowledge through experience and application.


Engineer II
1. Knows and effectively uses the fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of a particular field of specialization.
2. Continues development of technical expertise and knowledge through experience and application.


Engineer III
1. Has established technical expertise.
2. Serves as a resource to research unit/department/college.
3. Possesses and applies a comprehensive knowledge of a particular field of specialization to the completion of complex assignments.
4. Advances state-of-the-art research in field of specialization.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

MSU Careers Website

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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