Graphics Software Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible spending accounts

Education assistance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland, is seeking a creative and driven Software Engineer to develop engineering rendering software for complex scenes. You will work with a multidisciplinary team on national security challenges.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with graphics APIs such as Vulkan and OpenGL, proficiency in C++, and a strong educational background in a related technical field. This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Development of graphics, rendering, simulation, game-engine, or GPU rendering software.
• Experience working in large codebases.
• Technical leadership for graphics techniques and software development practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop multispectral rendering methodologies for EO/IR applications.
• Optimize application and shader performance.
• Mentor developers on graphics software development.

Skills

C++

Vulkan

OpenGL

DirectX

3D geometry and linear algebra

Education

BS in Computer Science or related field with 8+ years of experience

MS with 6+ years or PhD with 3+ years

Tools

Linux

Windows

Job description

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to impact significant advances to the nation’s groundbreaking integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) systems?

Are you an engineer driven to expand your skills in order to solve both current and emerging needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC)?

Would you like to join a team of skilled engineers and scientists to develop Electro-Optical (EO)/Infrared (IR) simulation capabilities?

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

We are seeking a creative, driven, and motivated software engineer to help invent, build, and sustain engineering rendering software for producing complex scenes, objects, and simulation-derived data. You will join a hardworking, multidisciplinary team that develops high-impact engineering capabilities for programs of national importance. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with engineers, scientists, and analysts to advance rendering methods that support analysis, simulation, and assessment of complex operational systems.

As a Graphics Software Engineer, you will:

• Develop multispectral rendering methodologies for Electro-Optical/Infrared, and related applications grounded by physical phenomenology.
• Contribute to a broad variety of tasks across the codebase, such as user interface, continuous integration, and non-graphics features.
• Optimize at the application and shader level to achieve peak performance in both latency and throughput.
• Diagnose and debug graphics, performance, memory, numerical, and integration issues in Linux and/or Windows development environments.
• Provide technical leadership for graphics techniques, implementation planning, code quality, testing strategy, and long-term maintainability.
• Mentor other developers and help establish effective graphics and scientific software development practices.
• Work on a small team to create high-impact software capabilities for challenging national security problems.
• Communicate technical approaches, trade-offs, progress, and results to project teams, technical leadership, and sponsors.

Qualifications

• Possess a BS with 8+ years, an MS with 6+ years, or a PhD with 3+ years of experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field, developing graphics, rendering, simulation, game-engine, or other GPU rendering software.
• Have experience working effectively in large codebases.
• Have direct experience with Vulkan, OpenGL, DirectX, or comparable modern graphics APIs, with demonstrated ability to design, implement, and debug rendering pipelines.
• Are proficient in C++ and comfortable developing performance‑sensitive software.
• Have experience with graphics concepts such as rendering pipelines, shaders, buffers, textures, camera models, coordinate transforms, lighting, materials, or scene management.
• Are comfortable solving problems in 3D geometry using linear algebra.
• Can work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative technical team.
• Have demonstrated experience in GPU programming, shader optimization, real‑time rendering performance analysis, or graphics pipeline profiling.
• Can communicate technical ideas clearly through documentation, presentations, and technical discussions.
• Are able to obtain a Secret security 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.

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].

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. 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.

Minimum Rate: $105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $290,000 Annually