Mission Planning Engineer/Analyst — AI-Driven Defense Design

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) in Laurel, MD, invites engineers to join our Mission Planning Design Engineer / Analyst team. You will help operationalize planning capabilities, model architectures and algorithms, and apply optimization to defense design across multi-service missions.

You will collaborate in a multidisciplinary group, develop prototypes, and support lifecycle analyses for warfighter needs, while engaging in sponsor reviews and technical reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or equivalent
• 2+ years of modeling/simulation and/or data analysis experience
• 2+ years translating user needs into technical solutions from workflow design to backend algorithms
• Experience in multi-disciplinary teams
• Programming experience in MATLAB or Python
• Experience working in engineering teams of 3+ people
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Technical expertise in design, analysis, or operation of complex systems
• Experience describing and modeling system architectures and algorithms
• Active Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship required

Responsibilities

• Engineer solutions for military mission planning and analytical efforts shaping planning, battle management, and coordination capabilities
• Describe and model system architectures and algorithms that underpin planning and battle management
• Develop algorithms and models of sensors, effectors, and combat systems to assess mission plans and engagement performance
• Engineer workflows translating warfighter needs into intuitive capabilities
• Apply optimization techniques to defense design and strategy problems
• Develop prototypes leveraging existing models, libraries, and data
• Conduct analysis supporting lifecycle engineering and real-world operations
• Participate in requirements and design reviews with sponsor direction
• Develop and deliver presentations to sponsors and collaborators
• Author reports connecting models, analysis, requirements, and recommendations

Skills

Engineering

Mathematics

Physics

MATLAB/Python

Security clearance

Team collaboration

Communication

Critical thinking

Systems design

Architectures/algorithms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/math/physics

Advanced degree desirable

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD, invites engineers to join our Mission Planning Design Engineer / Analyst team. You will help operationalize planning capabilities, model architectures and algorithms, and apply optimization to defense design across multi-service missions.

You will collaborate in a multidisciplinary group, develop prototypes, and support lifecycle analyses for warfighter needs, while engaging in sponsor reviews and technical reporting.