2026 PhD Graduate - Autonomous Systems Seeker and Sensor Engineer

JHUAPL; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement contributions

Work–life balance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Baltimore seeks newly graduating PhD engineers, physicists, and scientists to join the Strike Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC), and Seekers group. You will work on advanced weapons and autonomous systems seekers and sensors, designing, prototyping, and evaluating performance in realistic environments.

You will collaborate with top experts, access mentoring, and pursue educational opportunities while contributing to

Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
• Passionate about creative problem solving and applying skills to the design and development of next-generation weapons and autonomous systems.
• Academic background and interest in one or more of the technical areas listed.
• Research experience; internships; and/or practical skills in RF, EO/IR or related fields.
• U.S. citizenship with ability to obtain Interim Secret clearance by start date and Secret clearance eventual.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge seeker and sensor research, design, modeling, simulation and analysis across multidisciplinary domains.
• Develop innovative ways to simulate and predict seeker and sensor performance in complex environments.
• Lab test seeker and sensor hardware and software to identify operational capabilities and limitations.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts and government sponsors on multi-disciplinary optimization studies for early vehicle development.
• Pursue educational opportunities through courses and degree programs offered by the organization.

Skills

RF engineering

EO/IR basics

Seeker design

Sensor systems

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics

Job description

Are you looking for a career building deep expertise in a technical area critical to our national defense?

Do you wish to collaborate with and learn from some of the country’s top seeker and sensor subject matter experts?

If so, the Strike Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC), and Seekers group is looking for newly graduating PhD engineers, mathematicians, physicists, and scientists like you!

Our group's vision is to ensure that the United States maintains a technological advantage on the world stage by leading the development and prototyping of advanced weapons and autonomous systems. We provide state-of-the-art design solutions with a focus on seekers and sensors, guidance, navigation and control systems. We also specialize in embedded systems and multi-disciplinary design, simulation and optimization. If you are graduating in Engineering or Science and desire a rewarding career designing and evaluating advanced weapons and autonomous systems seekers and sensors, we’d love to talk to you about joining our team! We are seeking candidates with academic backgrounds and interest in one or more of the following technical areas:

• Electromagnetics
• RF System Design
• RF Antennas and Technologies
• RF Communications
• Radar Systems
• Optics
• EO/IR System Design
• EO/IR Imagers
• Focal Plane Arrays
• Digital Signal/Image Processing
• Detection and Classification Algorithms
• Circuits/Electronics, Software Defined Radios and Hardware Design

As a member of our team you will…

• Have the opportunity to conduct cutting edge seeker and sensor research, design, modeling, simulation and analysis while collaborating with adjacent technical domains in the development of next generation autonomous systems and weapons.
• Develop innovative ways of simulating and predicting seeker and sensor performance in complex operational environments.
• Lab test seeker and sensor hardware and software to identify operational capabilities and limitations.
• Work closely with seeker and sensor subject matter experts who will train and mentor you on your path to attaining deeper technical knowledge and experience.
• Collaborate with our teams of engineers and interact with government sponsors, including platform designers in multi-disciplinary optimization studies for early phase vehicle development.
• Have the opportunity to continue your education through a variety of educational opportunities such as technical short courses, graduate degree programs, and many more.

You meet our minimum qualifications the job if you…

• Have a PhD in an Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
• Are passionate about creative problem solving and applying your skills to the design and development of our nation’s next generation weapons and autonomous systems.
• Have academic background and interest in one or more of the technical areas listed above.
• Have conducted research; completed one or more internships; and/or possess practical skills in RF, EO/IR or related fields.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You’ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you…

• Have classroom, project or internship experience working with seekers, sensors and/or autonomous systems.
• Have familiarity with complimentary disciplines such as: modeling, simulation and analysis; design optimization; software or algorithm development; and hardware testing.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.