Mission-Critical Robotics & Autonomy Engineer

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a Robotics & Autonomous Systems Engineer to join the Tailored Autonomous Systems Group in the Laurel, MD area. You will work with multidisciplinary teams to develop mission-relevant autonomous systems for sponsors in defense and intelligence communities.

The role encompasses perception, planning, navigation, controls, AI/ML inference, and multi-agent autonomy on resource-constrained platforms, with emphasis on system

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field.
• Experience developing, integrating, or testing robotics, autonomous systems, embedded systems, or similar.
• Experience programming in Python, C++, Rust, or similar.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Eligibility to obtain Interim Top Secret clearance and ultimately Top Secret clearance; U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and program managers to develop mission-relevant autonomous systems for defense and intelligence sponsors.
• Contribute to architecture, design, implementation, integration, and testing of robotic and autonomous systems across sensing, software, communications, and hardware.
• Develop and integrate perception, planning, navigation, controls, AI/ML inference, and multi-agent autonomy on resource-constrained platforms.
• Participate in system architecture trades, requirements development, interface definition, and technical design reviews.
• Support verification, validation, testing activities including simulation, HWIL, and field experiments.
• Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, systems, and AI/ML disciplines to deliver integrated mission capabilities.
• Apply modern engineering practices: version control, code reviews, automated testing, documentation, CI.
• Present technical work to project teams, leadership, and sponsors, and take increasing ownership.

Skills

Python

C++

Rust

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM field

Tools

ROS/ROS2

Gazebo

Isaac Sim

Unreal Engine

AirSim

Job description

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a Robotics & Autonomous Systems Engineer to join the Tailored Autonomous Systems Group in the Laurel, MD area. You will work with multidisciplinary teams to develop mission-relevant autonomous systems for sponsors in defense and intelligence communities.

The role encompasses perception, planning, navigation, controls, AI/ML inference, and multi-agent autonomy on resource-constrained platforms, with emphasis on system