Senior Guidance and Control Engineer

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 is hiring a Guidance & Control Engineer in Laurel, Maryland. This role involves designing advanced guidance systems for military applications, including hypersonic flight and autonomous vehicles. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, robust experience in control systems, and a passion for mentoring others.

The position offers a competitive salary between $100,000 and $245,000 annually based on experience, while supporting a collaborative environment focused on innovative defense solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in vehicle guidance and controls.
• Proficiency in building physics-based models and simulation.
• Ability to obtain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Tackle complex challenges in advanced autonomous vehicle systems.
• Lead development of guidance and control algorithms.
• Mentor GNC engineers and ensure knowledge retention.

Skills

Vehicle guidance

Control systems design

Classical control methods

Modern control methods

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics

Job description

Introduction

Are you passionate about collaborating with experienced engineers to design and develop the next generation of weapon systems?

Can you design and deliver cutting‑edge guidance and control solutions, and guide their successful transition into operational weapon systems for our military?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking an experienced Guidance & Control (G&C) engineer to deliver world‑class analysis and development across a range of advanced vehicle systems. Emerging domains like hypersonic flight introduce complex design challenges, including rapidly changing nonlinear dynamics, unique control mechanisms, and mission‑specific guidance in highly contested environments.

Innovations in areas like Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning and cooperative control for multi‑agent systems also offer exciting opportunities to shape the future of our nation's defensive capabilities.

Our team supports a wide array of platforms, including hypersonics, cruise missiles, submarines, and autonomous flight vehicles. As a senior engineer, you will spearhead development of agile and robust guidance and control solutions for these critical systems, leveraging your deep technical expertise and passion for continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Apply your expertise in guidance and control to tackle complex technical challenges across a wide range of advanced autonomous vehicle systems.
• Lead the research, design, and development of cutting‑edge guidance and control algorithms, grounded in modern control theory and best practices.
• Mentor and guide other GNC engineers and help ensure that our team maintains deep knowledge in the analysis, design, and implementation of control solutions for next‑generation weapon systems.
• Analyze and assess contractor designs to assist program offices throughout the DoD acquisition cycle and interface with contractor community to help them design and build operational weapon systems.
• Collaborate closely with experts across disciplines to identify technical risks, communicate challenges to program sponsors, and help shape the strategic direction of your programs.

Qualifications

• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, or another related technical field.
• Have at least five years of experience in vehicle guidance, controls, or autonomous systems.
• Are comfortable in building physics‑based models, applying system dynamics and equations of motion in a simulation environment.
• Are proficient in one or more areas of controls theory, including: classical methods (e.g., PID) and modern methods (e.g., nonlinear Lyapunov‑based, adaptive, robust, cooperative, and model predictive control) and their application to vehicle control design.
• Have a strong sense of initiative, creativity, and a passion for learning.
• Work effectively in a team and would like to mentor and lead technical staff members.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret level 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Possess a Master's degree or PhD in a related technical field.
• Are proficient in guidance theory and application to flight systems (e.g., ProNav, GENEX, Optimal Guidance Methods).
• Have deep knowledge in an affiliated field such as state estimation, navigation, optimization, system identification, hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, or flight‑testing missile systems.
• Have significant experience in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, especially as applied towards vehicle autonomy.
• Have experience in project management, mentorship, and/or leading teams.

Pay

Minimum Rate: $100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $245,000 Annually

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

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].