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Research Engineer, Helmet Lab
Job no: 536400
Work type: Administrative & Professional
Senior management: Vice President for Research
Department: ICTAS
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Categories: Engineering, Research / Scientific
Job Description
About the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is a leading research group focused on understanding and reducing head injuries through biomechanics, laboratory testing, and translational research. The lab develops injury risk functions, evaluates protective equipment, and produces widely used helmet rating systems that inform consumers, industry, and policymakers. The lab operates at the intersection of engineering, public health, and product design. Research outcomes are routinely translated into real-world impact through partnerships with manufacturers, sports organizations, and safety stakeholders.
Position Overview
The Research Engineer will play a central role in leading and supporting laboratory operations, experimental testing, and engineering development activities. This position is hands-on and spans a range of responsibilities including test execution, instrumentation, hardware development, and prototyping. The role is designed for an engineer who is comfortable working both in a laboratory environment and on mechanical systems, and who is motivated by applying engineering principles to solve real-world safety problems. This position serves as a core engineering resource for the lab's testing infrastructure and research. The role operates in a fast-paced, applied research environment with multiple concurrent projects and testing demands.
Required Qualifications
• Advanced or Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field
• Experience working with mechanical systems, instrumentation, or laboratory testing
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative research environment
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with impact testing, biomechanics, or injury research
• Experience with sensors and data acquisition systems
• Experience with machining, fabrication, or prototyping
• Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks)
• Familiarity with additive manufacturing technologies
Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
$79,654 - $85,000
Hours per week
40
Review Date
May 26, 2006
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Erin Poff at emcclusk@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: May 15, 2026
Applications close:
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