Hardware Systems Engineer – Real-Time DoD Embedded

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

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Hardware Systems Engineer to design, review, and evolve distributed DoD real-time systems. You will work on circuit card assemblies, computing architectures, and hardware/software integration in a development lab.

You will analyze requirements, perform architecture definitions, and support obsolescence planning, with travel up to 10% and eligibility for Interim Secret / Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 3+ years engineering experience (hardware, systems, embedded).
• Skills in one or more: digital hardware or circuit card design, embedded/real‑time systems, or complex systems engineering.
• Willing to travel up to 10% as needed.
• Eligible for Interim Secret or Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Review and contribute to design and integration of digital hardware and embedded systems, focusing on circuit card assemblies and system performance.
• Review schematics, drawings, and test procedures to improve design quality and test coverage.
• Support obsolescence analysis and future equipment architecture planning (computing hardware, OS, cybersecurity).
• Participate in systems engineering activities: requirements analysis, architecture definition, verification planning.
• Contribute to hardware/software integration and testing in a lab and assist with troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis.

Skills

Digital hardware

Embedded/real‑time systems

Systems engineering

Security clearance eligibility

Willingness to travel

US citizenship

Education

B.S. degree in Computer/Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Hardware Systems Engineer to design, review, and evolve distributed DoD real-time systems. You will work on circuit card assemblies, computing architectures, and hardware/software integration in a development lab.

You will analyze requirements, perform architecture definitions, and support obsolescence planning, with travel up to 10% and eligibility for Interim Secret / Secret clearance.