Military Systems Cyber Analyst

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Military Systems Cyber Analyst to advance cyber capabilities for U.S. missions.

You will lead multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate missions, identify vulnerabilities, and develop robust, tested solutions for warfighter systems. The role requires a BS/BE in a technical field, 7+ years in defense or related domains, and the ability to obtain security clearances.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Engineering in CS, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• Seven+ years of relevant defense/mission-domain experience.
• Experience with three or more areas from the listed domains (e.g., system security, DoD anti-tamper, cyber threat intel, etc.).
• Strong leadership, initiative, and ability to work independently or in teams.

Responsibilities

• Apply a holistic adversary-like approach to evaluate U.S. systems and operations.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate mission outcomes and mentor junior staff.
• Inform strategy, sponsor engagement, and cross-group partnerships across JHU/APL.
• Analyze missions to identify vulnerabilities and guide robust capabilities against threats.
• Guide security engineering from concept to disposal with rigorous principles.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Travel flexibility

Education

B.S./B.E. in CS/Cybersecurity/Engineering

MS/ME or PhD in relevant field

Tools

Scripting languages

Job description

Description

Do you have a passion for problem solving, holistic perspective, and cybersecurity experience?

Do you enjoy leading multi-disciplinary teams towards innovative solutions?

Do you want to make meaningful contributions that enable the U.S. to prevail against ever-evolving threats?

The Mission Engineering Group of the Force Projection Sector at JHU/APL is seeking a motivated technical professional to help advance and apply cyber capabilities to critical U.S. missions. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with multi-disciplinary groups of engineers and domain experts to analyze military missions and systems to identify, implement, and test robust and effective solutions to cyber challenges. We care about making a real-world impact and solving the operational needs of the military organizations that we support.

About Us

The Mission Engineering Group develops solutions that enable warfighters to harness a wide-ranging set of sensors, weapons, and platforms for precision strike missions critical to our nation’s defense. We perform mission engineering and analysis using a mission-first, data-driven process to make recommendations to the Department of War that improve warfighter outcomes.

We emphasize engineering rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement while promoting a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

As a Military Systems Cyber Analyst for the Cyber Section within the Mission Engineering Group, you will…

• Apply a holistic adversary-like approach in the evaluation of U.S. systems and operations; Maintain up-to-date knowledge of recent advances in the field and of cyber-threats.
• Lead and contribute to multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate and assure mission outcomes; Provide mentorship to junior and mid-level team members.
• Inform and assist with strategy formulation and execution, sponsor engagement, and partnering across JHU/APL and beyond.
• Collaborate with operational, technical, and acquisition authorities to analyze U.S. military missions, operations, and systems to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities.
• Conduct analysis and guide the employment of technology, people, training and processes to achieve the most robust and resilient capabilities against nation-state adversaries.
• Guide and perform security engineering by applying rigorous principles, best practices, and analytic outputs to inform assured systems development and operations, from concept to disposal.
• Share knowledge by clearly articulating ideas and findings in written documents and presentations to technical staff, management, government decision makers, and other stakeholders; Identify and employ tools and technologies, data models, data analytics, reporting and visualization approaches to inform and accelerate decision-making.

Qualifications

You meet the minimum qualifications for this position if you…

• Possess a Bachelor of Science or Engineering degree (B.S. or B.E.) in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer or Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or other relevant technical field.
• Have at least seven years of relevant experience in defense, intelligence, or related mission domains.
• Have professional experience with demonstrated knowledge at the intermediate or higher level in at least three of the following areas:
• mission assurance or operational resilience concepts and methods;
• systems / mission engineering or operations research / analysis;
• system and cyber resiliency concepts and methods;
• system security engineering or system security design/architectures;
• DoD anti-tamper practices and technical solutions;
• hardware or software assurance;
• system red-teaming, penetration testing, or cybersecurity vulnerability assessment;
• cyber threat intelligence and assessments;
• communication and network security design or operations;
• hardware or software reverse engineering;
• cybersecurity situational awareness tools and techniques;
• cybersecurity incident response or forensics;
• scripting and prototype software development in one or more languages
• Are recognized as a trusted technical authority and collaborative leader, and are motivated to influence technical strategy, engineering culture, and best practices.
• Have demonstrated experience scoping and shaping technical efforts to effectively meet the needs of the end user within established constraints.
• Are comfortable managing ambiguity in order to achieve successful outcomes.
• Have strong initiative with drive to continually learn and improve your abilities.
• Are able to think outside the box to inform novel solutions to mission‑centric challenges.
• Have excellent problem solving and analytical ability.
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to wide‑ranging audiences.
• Have the ability to work independently and as part of a team, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Are willing and able to travel periodically, both locally and in CONUS, not likely to exceed a few trips per year at several days in duration for each.
• Are comfortable working a significant portion of the time within classified closed areas.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level 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.

You’ll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you…

• Possess a Master of Science or Engineering (M.S. or M.E.) or Doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D., D.Sc., D.Eng., etc.) in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer or Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or other relevant technical field.
• Have at least ten years of relevant experience in defense, intelligence, or related mission domains.
• Possess a current intermediate or advanced certification for the DoD Cyberspace Workforce Qualification and Management Program, in accordance with DoDM 8140.03.
• Have experience conducting research, development, and testing of offensive and/or defensive cyber capabilities.
• Have U.S. Military operational experience or domain knowledge within Surface; Subsurface; Air; Command, Control, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (C5ISRT); Electronic Warfare; or Long‑range strike.
• Have demonstrated ability leading multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Hold an active TS/SCI clearance.

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].

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. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually