Hypersonics & Reentry Mission Engineer

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 an Advanced Reentry Mission Engineer to analyze, develop, and prototype next‑generation reentry systems, hypersonic vehicles, and enabling technologies in a defense context. You will join a collaborative team delivering mission‑level analyses, trade studies, and design recommendations for concept development and acquisition decisions.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's in a related field, 3 years in mission engineering or

Qualifications

• Have a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Have 3 years of relevant experience in mission engineering, mission analysis, systems engineering, aerospace/mechanical engineering, operations analysis, modeling and simulation, or related defense/aerospace work.
• Have experience developing, using, or interpreting mission-level models/analyses, trajectory simulations, engagement simulations, weapon effects analyses, trade studies, or performance assessments.
• Have experience contributing to cross-functional technical teams of engineers, analysts, operators, or government stakeholders.
• Are familiar with early concept development efforts, including capability gap assessments, mission performance trade studies, requirements analysis, and risk assessment.
• Have demonstrated ability to communicate technical results clearly in written reports, briefings, and discussions with multidisciplinary teams.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain Top Secret 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop, apply, and refine mission-level models and analysis tools to evaluate advanced reentry, hypersonic, and related defense system concepts.
• Contribute to mission performance trade studies by translating mission objectives and system concepts into analysis approaches, measures of effectiveness, performance metrics, and simulation cases.
• Run and interpret trajectory, weapon effects, engagement, and scenario-based simulations to assess system performance, operational utility, survivability, and sensitivity to key assumptions.
• Support analysis of system-of-systems interactions, concepts of operations, mission timelines, threat environments, and capability gaps for emerging defense applications.
• Develop, maintain, and document analysis workflows, model assumptions, data inputs, functional decompositions, and mission architecture artifacts that support design reviews and acquisition decisions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of JHU/APL engineers, government sponsors, military operators, and industry partners to integrate analysis results into concept development and system design activities.
• Produce reports, briefings, visualizations, and technical summaries that communicate mission analysis results, trade-space findings, uncertainties, and recommendations to technical and sponsor audiences.

Skills

Mission engineering

Systems engineering

Trajectory simulations

Cross-functional collaboration

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Operations Research, or related discipline

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Advanced Reentry Mission Engineer to analyze, develop, and prototype next‑generation reentry systems, hypersonic vehicles, and enabling technologies in a defense context. You will join a collaborative team delivering mission‑level analyses, trade studies, and design recommendations for concept development and acquisition decisions.

Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor's in a related field, 3 years in mission engineering or