Defense Systems Engineer: AI-Driven Mission Planning

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Systems Analyst to advance military mission planning through systems engineering and analytic rigor. You will shape requirements, analyze capabilities, and support planning tools used by warfighters, collaborating with engineers and sponsors across multiple domains.

You will contribute to research, design reviews, and data-driven recommendations, delivering clear briefings and reports to inform decision-makers and program direction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or equivalent.
• Two or more years of systems engineering work, data analysis activities, and/or requirements development/analysis.
• Experience in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Programming experience with MATLAB or Python.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Active Final Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship.
• Experience in engineering teams of 3+ people.
• Technical expertise in the design/analysis/operation of military systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct system engineering activities and system analytics for military mission planning.
• Provide thought leadership on requirements analysis and capability development for planning, battle management aid, and coordination systems.
• Participate in requirements and design reviews to align with sponsor directions.
• Provide domain know-how for military test events and real-world scenarios for Missile Defense Agency and Navy decision-makers.
• Develop and deliver presentations to sponsors and collaborators.
• Author reports combining system definitions, requirements, analysis, and recommendations.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Systems engineering

Data analysis

Requirements analysis

Communication

Critical thinking

Military systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/math/physics

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Systems Analyst to advance military mission planning through systems engineering and analytic rigor. You will shape requirements, analyze capabilities, and support planning tools used by warfighters, collaborating with engineers and sponsors across multiple domains.

You will contribute to research, design reviews, and data-driven recommendations, delivering clear briefings and reports to inform decision-makers and program direction.