Senior Mission Engineer & Analyst

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement contributions

Healthy work/life balance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, MD seeks a Senior Engineer/Analyst to lead vision, architecture, and implementation of mission-centered, model-based capabilities for augmented decision making. You will work with leadership and stakeholders to translate needs into actionable requirements and guide multi-disciplinary teams in modeling and analysis.

The role emphasizes rigorous engineering, collaboration, and potential travel to military facilities, with opportunities to influence

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field.
• 7+ years of defense/related mission-domain experience, including classified environments.
• Expertise in decision science, digital engineering, statistics, optimization, ML/AI.
• Experience performing systems engineering for complex systems or systems-of-systems.
• Familiarity with mission engineering process and mission architectures.
• Proven ability to apply education/professional background to real-world engineering problems.
• Experience leading cross-disciplinary mission engineering efforts.
• Strong verbal and written communication; able to explain complex concepts.
• Willingness to travel to military facilities and obtain security clearance.
• Eligibility for US citizenship and Interim Secret clearance; TS/SCI possible.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical vision, architecture, and implementation of mission-centered capabilities.
• Translate mission and user needs into actionable system and model requirements.
• Guide multi-disciplinary teams on modeling, simulation, and analytical methods.
• Plan, execute, and analyze field tests; manage risks and technical debt.
• Document results and mentor junior engineers; present to sponsors and forums.

Skills

Mission engineering

Decision science

Digital engineering

Statistical analysis

Machine learning

Artificial intelligence

Systems engineering

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C++

Java

Linux

Job description

Description

Are you eager to architect and deliver robust, scalable, and secure systems that enable real operational decisions for warfighters?

Are you excited to directly impact the nation’s most challenging defense problems?

Are you passionate about large, mission‑critical systems, Mission Engineering, and the best practices for designing complex missions and mission solutions?

The Mission Engineering Group of the Force Projection Sector at JHU/APL is seeking a Senior Engineer / Analyst to help lead the technical vision, architecture, and implementation of mission‑centered, model‑based capabilities that advance augmented human decision making.

About Us

The Mission Engineering Group develops enterprise-grade, distributed software and decision‑support tools that enable warfighters to harness a wide-ranging set of sensors, weapons, and platforms for precision strike missions critical to our nation’s defense.

We emphasize engineering rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement while promoting a culture of innovation and technical excellence.

As a Senior Engineer & Analyst for the Decision Science Section within the Mission Engineering Group, you will:

• Apply systems thinking and mission engineering to analyze operational concepts and mission threads, and design mission architectures that connect warfighter needs to mission outcomes.
• Work closely with APL leadership, government mission stakeholders, and partner organizations to translate mission and user needs into actionable system and model requirements and mission‑relevant solutions.
• Lead and contribute to multi‑disciplinary teams that develop modeling, simulation, and analytical methods and tools, help shape system and mission architectures, and connect those architectures to analysis models (e.g., AFSIM).
• Plan, execute, and analyze field tests and experiments, and identify and manage technical risks and technical debt to drive continuous improvement of systems, models, and engineering processes.
• Document and present results through clear, compelling reports and presentations to managers, sponsors, and technical forums, while providing technical leadership and mentorship to junior and mid‑level engineers.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a master’s degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Have at least seven years of relevant experience in defense, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, targeting, or related mission domains, including working with operational users and in classified environments.
• Have expertise in one or more of the following areas: decision science, digital engineering, statistical analysis, mathematical optimization, pattern recognition, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Have experience performingsystems engineeringin the design, development, and/or evaluation of complex systems or systems‑of‑systems.
• Are familiar with the mission engineering processand are able to develop mission architectures that connect operational needs to system capabilities.
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully apply your educational and professional background to real world engineering problems and work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Have experience leading mission engineering efforts that span multiple disciplines described in the Mission Engineering process.
• Are recognized as a technical authority and collaborative leader, and are motivated to influence technical strategy, engineering culture, and best practices across the Mission Engineering Group.
• Have strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to wide-ranging audiences.
• Are highly creative, a self-starter, and interested in novel, mission driven challenges.
• Are willing and able to periodically travel to and work at military facilities.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI 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.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have a doctorate degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Have skills and experience developing engineering applications in programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, C++, and Java and in Linux environments.
• Have experience with performing analysis using the AFSIM toolset.
• Hold an active TS/SCI level security clearance.

Benefits

Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore‑Washington metro area.

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].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 Annually