Missile Defense Systems Engineer: Adversary Analysis & Simulation

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Robust retirement contributions

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD is seeking engineers and scientists to tackle defense challenges. You will develop physics-based simulations, analyze missile systems, and combine modeling, software, and data to understand performance.

This role emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, clear communication of results, and learning new subjects while contributing to system-level insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related field
• Experience with at least one programming language such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Java, Rust, or similar
• Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills
• Enjoy learning how complex physical or engineered systems work
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly in writing and speech
• Ability to collaborate with engineers and scientists from different backgrounds
• Must be able to obtain Interim Secret clearance by start date and eventual Secret clearance (U.S. citizenship required)

Responsibilities

• Develop and use physics-based simulations to understand performance of aerospace and missile systems
• Analyze cruise, ballistic, hypersonic missiles, autonomous aerial systems to understand capabilities and limits
• Apply engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, software, and data to answer questions about system performance
• Compare simulations with data and continually improve product quality
• Learn system operation to identify performance characteristics and vulnerabilities
• Assess how emerging defense technologies perform against threats
• Contribute to concepts for defending against those systems
• Collaborate across teams to connect work to a larger system-level understanding
• Communicate results, assumptions, uncertainties, and conclusions clearly to teammates and sponsors
• Participate in reviews, experiments, test events, and other activities linking analysis to real-world problems

Skills

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Java

Rust

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Computer Science/Physics

Tools

Modeling & simulation

Data analysis

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD is seeking engineers and scientists to tackle defense challenges. You will develop physics-based simulations, analyze missile systems, and combine modeling, software, and data to understand performance.

This role emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, clear communication of results, and learning new subjects while contributing to system-level insights.