Control Systems Engineer

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland is seeking an experienced GN&C engineer to join their team. This role focuses on the analysis and design of missile systems and requires expertise in feedback control systems. Applicants should possess a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields along with significant experience in strategic weapon systems.

Responsibilities include conducting autopilot analyses, mentoring junior staff, and presenting technical work. The offered salary ranges from $100,000 to $245,000 annually, along with the opportunity for security clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in strategic weapon systems including hypersonic or ballistic missile systems.
• Demonstrated experience in autopilot and control systems design and analysis.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct autopilot and control trade studies and analyses for missile systems.
• Provide technical leadership to teams and mentor junior staff.
• Present work to internal audience and sponsors.

Skills

Expertise in feedback control systems

Strong communication skills

Experience with MATLAB

Experience with Simulink

Experience with C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Job description

Description

Are you interested in working on our nation’s most advanced hypersonic and ballistic missile systems?

Do you want to be a part of a highly motivated team of GN&C subject matter experts that respond to our sponsor's most critical and impactful missile system challenges? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking an experienced GN&C engineer with expertise in feedback control systems to design, model, and evaluate missile systems. These weapon systems fly fast with short time-constant nonlinear dynamics through an atmosphere with many disturbances. Our sponsors look to us to be independent GN&C subject matter experts supporting multiple ballistic and hypersonic weapon systems. In this role you will independently evaluate real flight test performance of existing systems and influence designs and capabilities of next-generation systems to meet warfighter needs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct autopilot and control trade studies, designs, and analyses for next generation missile systems, including algorithm design, performance prediction, and assessment against sponsor objectives using fidelity and low-fidelity system models.
• Provide technical leadership to teams of varying size and mentor junior staff to maintain deep knowledge across feedback control design for missile systems.
• Present work to a broad internal audience, sponsors, and external organizations at working groups, post-flight briefings, and program reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or closely related field.
• At least 5 years of work experience in strategic weapon systems, including hypersonic or ballistic missile systems.
• Demonstrated experience in design and analysis of autopilot, classical, and modern control systems using linear and nonlinear flight dynamics models.
• Interest and willingness to work on nuclear and hypersonic missile systems.
• Experience using MATLAB, Simulink, and C++.
• Strong curiosity, motivation to understand system behavior, and ambition to pursue that curiosity.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to develop relationships across diverse teams.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by start date and ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. and/or additional relevant work experience in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or closely related field.
• 10 years or more experience in strategic weapon systems, including hypersonic or ballistic missile systems.
• Demonstrated successful technical leadership of a team.
• Experience and interest in related fields such as guidance and navigation systems, or six degree-of-freedom modeling and simulation.
• Currently hold an active Secret or higher level clearance.

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].

Minimum Rate: $100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $245,000 Annually