2026 PhD Graduate – Wireless Communications Engineer – Wireless Cyber Capabilities

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel (MD)

On-site

USD 102,500 - 227,500

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance
Robust retirement contributions
Work/life balance benefits

Job summary

A leading research institution in Maryland is seeking a 2026 PhD Graduate – Wireless Communications Engineer. You will collaborate with a team to develop innovative wireless solutions for military applications. Ideal candidates should have a PhD in relevant fields and skills in wireless communication concepts. The role offers competitive compensation ranging from $102,500 to $227,500 annually.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • Knowledge of signals & systems or wireless communication concepts.
  • Knowledge of software design patterns in relevant programming languages.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with a team of engineers and software developers.
  • Implement wireless communication technology solutions.
  • Leverage wireless communications expertise and machine learning.

Skills

Signals & Systems
Wireless Communication
Python
C++
C
VHDL/Verilog
MATLAB

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering
PhD in Computer Engineering
Related Technical Degree

Tools

SDR frameworks (GNU Radio)
ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow)

Job description

2026 PhD Graduate – Wireless Communications Engineer – Wireless Cyber Capabilities

Join to apply for the 2026 PhD Graduate – Wireless Communications Engineer – Wireless Cyber Capabilities role at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Pay Range

Base pay range: $102,500.00/yr - $227,500.00/yr

Description

Do you want to become an expert in wireless communications?
Are you passionate about learning about the latest wireless technologies?
If you are graduating with a PhD in Electrical or Computer Engineering and want to work in wireless communications, we'd love to have you join our team!

We are seeking to develop engineers to help us give our nation a significant advantage by controlling the wireless communications environment. Our Wireless Cyber Capabilities team focuses on providing the U.S. military and intelligence communities with operational advantages by leveraging software‑defined radios, commercial cellular equipment, and machine learning to develop advanced capabilities for research and operational prototypes.

Research Areas
  • Wireless Cybersecurity: We leverage our deep knowledge of wireless protocols to develop new and innovative approaches to secure our nation’s communications against on‑network and off‑network attacks.
  • Radio Frequency Machine Learning (RFML): We apply our expertise in deep learning to devise novel solutions to complex RF and wireless communications problems that are intractable using conventional approaches.
  • Resilient Tactical Communications: We draw on our mastery of wireless networking and waveform design to fortify existing systems and design new systems that will enable robust, adaptable tactical communications.
  • Wireless Communications Lab (WCL): The WCL leverages a broad range of expertise in modeling and simulation, rapid prototyping, end‑to‑end network analysis, and wireless exploitation to advance the state of the art in electromagnetic maneuverability, network intelligence, and wireless protocol security.
As a member of our team, you will…
  • Be part of a team that leverages wireless communications expertise, software defined radios, and machine learning to own the communications environment.
  • Collaborate with a team of wireless communications engineers and software developers to implement wireless communication technology solutions.
  • Be exposed to a variety of projects and encouraged to explore what technical focus areas interest you.
Qualifications
  • Have a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical degree.
  • Be skilled in and/or have knowledge of signals & systems or wireless communication concepts.
  • Be skilled in and/or have knowledge of software design patterns in a language such as Python, C++, C, VHDL/Verilog, or MATLAB.
  • Be able to obtain Interim Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. Eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.
You’ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you…
  • Have skills in and/or knowledge of wireless communication protocols or systems such as Wi‑Fi, 5G‑NewRadio / NextG, or SATCOM.
  • Have skills in and/or knowledge of digital signal processing (DSP) such as Fourier analysis and filtering.
  • Have skills in and/or knowledge of software defined radio (SDR) frameworks such as GNU Radio.
  • Have skills in and/or knowledge of machine learning (ML) including frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow.
About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world‑class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. Our culture is vibrant and welcoming, encouraging authentic self, growth, and strong connections.

Why Work at APL?

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.

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. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

Benefits

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.

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