Senior Advanced Concepts Engineer

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

Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD invites you to join its Multidisciplinary Design Optimization team as an Advanced Concept Engineer to tackle next‑generation missile and weapon concepts, translating operational needs into credible designs. You will conduct trade studies, develop physics-based models, and communicate insights to sponsors and management.

Requires a Master’s in aerospace/ME, 2+ years of research, MATLAB/Python/C++, and ability to obtain

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Two or more years of relevant academic research.
• Experience in at least one aerospace system or subsystem discipline.
• Proficiency in a programming language such as MATLAB, Python, or C++.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Top Secret/SCI level clearance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct multidisciplinary trade, optimization, sensitivity, and system-of-systems studies to develop and evaluate next-generation missile and weapon concepts.
• Analyze problems spanning missile design and performance, mission planning, fire control and weapon scheduling, ballistic missile defense, anti-air warfare, hypersonic defense, defensive space control, and early-stage hardware design.
• Formulate, develop, and implement state-of-the-art physics-based/empirical models for conceptual design and performance analysis of U.S. and adversary weapon systems.
• Distill complex technical analysis into actionable insights; communicate findings to technical experts, executive management, and government sponsors to inform critical technical and programmatic decisions.
• Translate operational needs and real-world constraints into mathematical formulations suitable for modeling, simulation, and optimization.
• Identify and adapt cutting-edge methods from industry and academia to bring new approaches to complex defense challenges.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

C++

Education

Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Two+ years of relevant academic research

Job description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, MD invites you to join its Multidisciplinary Design Optimization team as an Advanced Concept Engineer to tackle next‑generation missile and weapon concepts, translating operational needs into credible designs. You will conduct trade studies, develop physics-based models, and communicate insights to sponsors and management.

Requires a Master’s in aerospace/ME, 2+ years of research, MATLAB/Python/C++, and ability to obtain