2026 PhD Graduate - Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland is seeking a new PhD graduate with expertise in machine learning to join a diverse team. You will support multi-disciplinary teams performing various quantitative tasks related to national security and defense applications.

Ideal candidates should have a solid foundation in machine learning, statistical analysis, and experience with modern AI/ML frameworks. This position offers a competitive salary ranging from $105,000 to $245,000 annually, depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the mathematical foundations of machine learning.
• Experience using modern AI/ML libraries or frameworks.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Support development of data collection and analysis for Navy and Air Force systems.
• Contribute to the research and development lifecycle for emerging problems.
• Select modeling approaches for complex, real-world data.

Skills

Machine Learning

Statistical Analysis

Data Processing

Interpersonal Skills

Project Management

Education

PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a new PhD graduate with expertise in machine learning to support multi‑disciplinary teams performing a variety of quantitative tasks for defense and national security applications. You will join a varied team of engineers, software developers, statisticians, data scientists, and analysts who are committed to advancing the state‑of‑the‑art in performance evaluation of the nation’s strategic weapons systems throughout their lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Work with multi‑disciplinary teams to support development of data collection, processing, and analysis efforts to assess the performance of a number of systems supporting the Navy and Air Force.
• Contribute to the full research and development lifecycle for emerging problems, including model and algorithm selection, experimentation, analysis, and presentation of results.
• Apply appropriate statistical and machine learning expertise towards selecting modeling approaches for complex, real‑world data.
• Use internal funding opportunities to shape the direction of future research.
• Communicate technical knowledge by articulating ideas clearly through papers and presentations to technical staff, management, and government decision makers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Have a PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and on a team.
• Have a solid understanding of the mathematical foundations of ML, including probability, statistics, and linear algebra.
• Have experience using modern AI/ML libraries or frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow), including adapting or extending methods for domain‑specific problems.
• Demonstrate experience selecting appropriate modeling techniques for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems in research or real‑world settings, understanding when and why they are appropriate.
• Be able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in project management or leading technical teams.
• Experience writing technical proposals for government research projects.
• Experience mentoring students, teaching, or communicating complex technical concepts in academic, research, or professional settings.
• Experience applying machine learning methods to scientific, engineering, or data analysis problems, such as computer vision, NLP, time‑series analysis, or scientific machine learning.
• Contributions to peer‑reviewed publications, technical reports, or presentations in statistics, machine learning, applied mathematics, or related fields.
• Experience understanding, developing, or adapting modern AI models and workflows, including large language models, for quantitative analysis and decision support.

Compensation

Minimum Rate: $105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $245,000 Annually

EEO Statement

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 contact [e-mail].