Autonomous UAS Design & Integration Engineer

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory seeks an experienced UAS Design and Integration Engineer to own prototypes from concept to delivery. You will lead hands-on assembly, integration of platforms, sensors, and payloads, and balance performance with cost and field repairability.

You will translate mission needs into practical, low-cost solutions while coordinating across mechanical, electrical, software, and autonomy teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering field.
• Experience designing, building, integrating and testing custom UAS or similar hardware deployed for users.
• Experience owning technical solutions through build, test, and iterative improvement.
• Experience designing and troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical aerospace or prototype systems.
• Proficiency with modern UAS autopilot systems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and ground control software.
• Strong understanding of UAS subsystems: avionics, propulsion, GNC, electricals, payloads, interfaces.
• Effective cross-disciplinary communication and decision-making to support integrated system performance.
• Hands-on in labs, machine shops, and field environments; willing to move between design, fabrication, integration, testing and failure investigation.

Responsibilities

• Own design and integration of UAS prototypes from concept through build, testing, failure analysis, redesign and delivery to test teams.
• Lead hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms: fabrication, wiring, propulsion, sensors, and payloads.
• Translate mission needs into practical, low-cost vehicle and system solutions balancing performance, mass, power, cost, and maintainability.
• Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, autonomy, test and operations to ensure cohesive system performance.
• Design and integrate flight control systems, autopilot configuration, sensor calibration, and GNC tuning.
• Plan and execute lab, ground and flight testing; analyze results; drive iterative design improvements.
• Communicate risks and issues early and drive corrective actions for next build or test.
• Produce as-built configurations, test procedures, checklists, and lessons learned.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

System integration

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

PX4

ArduPilot

SolidWorks

Soldering

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory seeks an experienced UAS Design and Integration Engineer to own prototypes from concept to delivery. You will lead hands-on assembly, integration of platforms, sensors, and payloads, and balance performance with cost and field repairability.

You will translate mission needs into practical, low-cost solutions while coordinating across mechanical, electrical, software, and autonomy teams.