Airspace Safety Research Scientist & Technical Lead (AI/Autonomy)

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement contributions

Training and development

Work-life balance

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a National Airspace Safety Research Scientist and Technical Lead to define and execute an applied research agenda in aviation safety and security. You will guide interdisciplinary teams to safely integrate trusted autonomous and AI-enabled systems into the NAS.

APL's Critical Infrastructure Protection Group develops capabilities from modeling to field-data collection, with opportunities to use the CYPRESS Laboratory and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, CS, EE, applied mathematics, or related field.
• Substantive research or engineering experience involving the NAS, aviation safety, air traffic management, aircraft collision avoidance, or airspace integration.
• Ability to lead technically complex research from problem formulation through analysis, validation, and clear recommendations.
• Hands-on experience in modeling, simulation, and data analysis, with proficiency in at least one relevant programming environment (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C/C++).
• Strong communication, collaborative leadership, and systems-thinking skills for multidisciplinary and sponsor-facing work.
• U.S. citizenship with eligibility to obtain Interim Secret and ultimately Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape research on NAS safety, including emerging airspace operations and the integration of trusted autonomous and AI/ML-enabled systems.
• Translate sponsor and mission-owner needs into research questions, technical approaches, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Direct modeling, simulation, data analysis, and experimentation to evaluate system behavior, risks, resilience, and operational safety.
• Advance methods to establish evidence, justification, and confidence in safety-critical AI/ML and autonomous systems.
• Guide monitoring, prediction, estimation, decision-making, and control approaches for aviation safety.
• Lead interdisciplinary scientists and engineers; mentor junior staff, review technical work, and help set research priorities.
• Move promising research toward application through prototypes, integration demonstrations, field-data collection, and flight testing.
• Present findings and recommendations to sponsors and technical audiences; publish research and contribute to proposals for new investigations.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Modeling & simulation

Data analysis

Communication

Leadership

Collaboration

Systems thinking

Education

Master's degree in aerospace engineering / systems engineering / computer science / electrical engineering / applied mathematics or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C/C++

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a National Airspace Safety Research Scientist and Technical Lead to define and execute an applied research agenda in aviation safety and security. You will guide interdisciplinary teams to safely integrate trusted autonomous and AI-enabled systems into the NAS.

APL's Critical Infrastructure Protection Group develops capabilities from modeling to field-data collection, with opportunities to use the CYPRESS Laboratory and