Exploration Program Area Chief Technologist: Intelligence & Autonomy

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Chief Technologist for Intelligence & Autonomy to shape a broad research portfolio spanning frontier AI, autonomy, and emerging systems within the RED Mission Area.

As a senior technical strategist, you will incubate new concepts, build multidisciplinary teams, translate sponsor needs into funded programs, and coordinate across program areas and external partners to deliver enduring capabilities.

Qualifications

• MS in Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 7+ years technical experience in frontier AI systems, intelligent autonomy, machine learning, multi-agent systems, human-AI collaboration, AI evaluation and assurance, robotic systems, or intelligent tools for scientific discovery and analysis.
• 3+ years leadership and project management experience.
• Experience across multiple domains including AI, autonomy, robotics, quantum or advanced computing, and human-machine systems.

Responsibilities

• Define emerging technical directions and incubate major new research concepts.
• Lead cross-disciplinary teams to mature concepts into funded programs.
• Translate sponsor needs into technically credible program concepts and opportunities.
• Influence technical direction and assemble high-performing teams across organizational boundaries.
• Represent the Exploration Program Area to leadership, sponsors, and external partners.

Skills

Frontier AI

Autonomy

Machine Learning

Robotics

Human-AI Collaboration

AI Evaluation

System Integration

Leadership

Education

MS in CS or ECE

Job description

Description

Are you excited by the opportunity to shape the next generation of research and technology programs at the intersection of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and emerging systems?

Are you excited by the opportunity to shape the next generation of research and technology programs at the intersection of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and emerging systems?

Do you thrive on connecting ideas across disciplines, assembling technical teams, and turning emerging concepts into consequential capabilities for national security?

Are you energized by building trusted relationships with government sponsors and helping create major new research directions from the earliest idea through program formation and execution?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a Chief Technologist for Intelligence & Autonomy within the Exploration Program Area of the Research and Exploratory Development (RED) Mission Area. This senior technical leadership role will help shape the future of a broad research portfolio spanning frontier intelligence, enhanced human capability, autonomous action, and emerging interdisciplinary technologies while creating new opportunities that draw on capabilities across the RED Mission Area and the broader Laboratory.

The Exploration Program Area advances emerging science and technology from early research through mission-relevant demonstrations and new sponsored programs. Its portfolio includes areas such as artificial intelligence and autonomy, quantum and alternative computing, advanced electronics and sensing, novel materials and devices, human-machine systems, and other convergent technologies. Complementing their primary focus on intelligence and autonomy, the Chief Technologist will work across the Program Area and Mission Area disciplines to identify high-impact opportunities that may or may not fit neatly within a single existing program, and will help bring together the people, capabilities, investments, and sponsor relationships needed to turn those opportunities into enduring technical programs.

As the Chief Technologist, you will serve as a senior technical strategist, integrator, and creator for the Exploration Program Area. Working closely with the Exploration Program Area Manager, Mission Area leadership, Program Managers, technical line leadership, and experts across APL, you will help define emerging technical directions, incubate new research concepts, form multidisciplinary teams, and shape major sponsor opportunities. You will be expected to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and to influence technical direction through credibility, vision, relationships, and demonstrated execution rather than through direct line authority.

Success in this role requires unusual breadth: the ability to understand enough of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines to recognize important connections; the judgment to distinguish an interesting idea from a strategically significant opportunity; the leadership to assemble and motivate strong technical teams; and the sponsor acumen to translate emerging government needs into compelling research and development programs. You will represent the Exploration Program Area to APL leadership, government sponsors, industry partners, academia, and the broader technical community.

You’ll join a collaborative community of scientists, engineers, and program leaders committed to intellectual curiosity, technical excellence, creativity, and mission impact. The goal is not simply to steward today's portfolio, but to help invent tomorrow’s Exploration Program Area.

As the Chief Technologist, you will be responsible for

• Technology Strategy & Foresight: Identify emerging and convergent technologies with the potential to create differentiated APL capabilities and significant national-security impact. With a focus on intelligence and autonomy, develop and communicate forward-looking technical themes for the Exploration Program Area, assess gaps and opportunities across the existing portfolio, and help leadership make informed choices about where to invest, partner, or build new capability.
• New Research & Program Creation: Originate, shape, and incubate major new technical concepts. Lead the progression from early idea to credible research direction by defining the mission problem, technical hypothesis, differentiating approach, demonstration path, required team, internal investment strategy, and potential sponsor base. Help mature promising concepts into substantial externally sponsored programs.
• Cross-Disciplinary Technical Integration: Bring together scientists and engineers across AI/ML, autonomy, robotics, advanced computing, physics, electronics, materials, sensing, data systems, human-machine systems, design, fabrication, and other relevant disciplines. Create coherent technical architectures and research strategies that combine capabilities in ways that individual programs or groups may not independently pursue.
• Sponsor & External Engagement: Develop and sustain trusted relationships with government sponsors, Laboratory leadership, industry, academic institutions, and other external partners. Translate emerging sponsor needs into technically credible program concepts; communicate complex ideas through briefings, white papers, demonstrations, reviews, and technical discussions; and help position APL for consequential new research opportunities.
• Portfolio Integration & Strategic Partnership: Partner with the Exploration Program Area Manager and Program Managers to strengthen alignment across Alternative Computing Paradigms, Physics, Electronic Materials and Devices, and Frontier Intelligent Systems. Identify opportunities for collaboration across the Research Program Area, RED technical branches, other APL Mission Areas, and external organizations, while preserving clear ownership and accountability within existing programs.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Provide senior technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams, challenge assumptions constructively, mentor technical and program leaders, and help teams navigate ambiguity, technical risk, and organizational complexity. Foster a culture that values bold ideas, rigorous evidence, systems thinking, collaboration, and mission relevance.
• Transition & Enduring Impact: Help programs move beyond compelling demonstrations toward sustainable capabilities, enduring sponsor relationships, technology transition, and follow-on impact.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications if you:

• Possess a MS in Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 7+ years technical experience in one of the following: frontier AI systems, intelligent autonomy, machine learning, multi-agent systems, human-AI collaboration, AI evaluation and assurance, robotic systems, or intelligent tools for scientific discovery and analysis.
• 3+ years relevant professional experience in leadership role and previous Project Management experience.
• Have significant technical experience in more than one of the following: frontier AI systems, intelligent autonomy, machine learning, multi-agent systems, human-AI collaboration, AI evaluation and assurance, robotic systems, or intelligent tools for scientific discovery and analysis.
• Are familiar with APL business processes and federal contracting.
• Have previous line management experience.
• Have demonstrated success conceiving, shaping, and leading large, multidisciplinary research and development efforts driving the frontiers of intelligence, autonomy, and human-machine teaming.
• Have deep technical expertise across artificial intelligence, autonomy, and human-machine teaming.
• Have a broad technical background in engineering, applied science, computer science, physics, or a related field, with the strength to engage credibly across multiple scientific and engineering domains.
• Have demonstrated success translating emerging technical ideas and sponsor needs into funded research programs with DARPA, ONR, IARPA or other APL-relevant US Government Sponsors, major proposals, strategic initiatives, or comparable high-impact efforts.
• Have experience building and maintaining trusted relationships with government sponsors and senior technical leaders, including the ability to operate effectively in complex, high-stakes sponsor environments.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify important connections across disciplines, frame difficult technical problems, and create coherent strategies from ambiguous or incomplete information.
• Demonstrate the ability to influence technical direction and assemble high-performing teams across organizational boundaries without relying on direct line authority.
• Possess excellent strategic planning, communication, and organizational skills, with experience briefing senior leadership, technical experts, and government sponsors.
• Demonstrate strong judgment, initiative, resilience, creativity, and the ability to thrive in rapidly evolving research environments.
• Are able to travel as needed to support sponsor engagement, technical collaboration, and program development.
• Hold an active Top Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You’ll go above and beyond if you

• Hold an advanced degree in engineering, applied science, computer science, physics, or a related discipline.
• Have a demonstrated record of originating or growing significant multi-year sponsored research programs and sustaining them through complex technical and sponsor challenges.
• Have broad technical experience spanning more than one of the Exploration Program Area's core domains, such as AI/ML and autonomy, robotics, quantum or alternative computing, advanced electronics and sensing, materials and devices, human-machine systems, or advanced design and fabrication.
• Have experience developing new technical portfolios in partnership with organizations such as the Department of War, Intelligence Community, national research agencies, or other mission-focused government sponsors.
• Have experience moving technology across the full lifecycle from exploratory research through prototype development, demonstration, transition, and operational impact.
• Have experience creating and leading cross-organizational teams that include APL staff, government partners, industry, universities, and other research organizations.
• Have experience operating within APL or a similarly complex University Affiliated Research Center, federally funded research and development center, national laboratory, or mission-oriented research organization.
• Bring a strong external professional network and a record of using technical credibility and trusted relationships to create new opportunities for institutional impact.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture.

We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. 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. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

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].

APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. 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. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually