Senior Radar & Sensor Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL); Laurel (NE); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Strong retirement contributions

Paid time off

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Training and development

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a senior radar and sensing engineer to advance signal processing and sensor architectures within complex system environments. The role emphasizes algorithm development, modeling, testing, and collaboration with sponsors.

You will lead verification, validation, and data analysis while mentoring junior staff and contributing to multi-disciplinary programs across defense sensing capabilities.

Qualifications

• BS in electrical engineering or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience developing, evaluating, or assessing signal processing algorithms, radar systems, sensor systems, classification or discrimination methods, or sensing architectures.
• Demonstrated expertise in radar signal processing, radar systems engineering, waveform analysis, or detector/estimation theory.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, verification and validation, test data analysis, or performance assessment using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar languages.
• Familiarity with tracking, state estimation, multi-sensor data fusion, or data association.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing sponsors and leadership.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain TS/SCI, US citizenship.
• MS or PhD preferred.
• 7+ years leading radar/sensor system development or analysis.
• Experience in air and missile defense and related programs.
• Leading radar or sensor system development from concept through prototyping and transition.
• Experience mentoring junior staff and leading technical teams.
• Active Top Secret clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and refinement of signal processing, radar, sensing, classification, and sensor performance algorithms in complex environments.
• Support concept development, requirements analysis, and architecture trade studies for radar and sensor solutions.
• Evaluate end-to-end radar and sensor performance including detection, discrimination, and classification.
• Perform verification, validation, test data analysis, and performance assessments for prototypes and operations.
• Analyze complex sensor systems, radar phenomenology, sensor integration, and resource management.
• Design and execute modeling, simulation, analysis, verification, and validation studies for performance metrics.
• Collaborate with sponsors and external partners to solve challenging problems across signal processing and sensor architectures.
• Develop algorithm prototypes and technical solutions advancing sensing and tracking capabilities.
• Lead studies, shape project direction, and present data-driven briefings to sponsors and leadership.
• Mentor junior staff in a rigorous engineering environment.

Skills

Radar signal processing

Sensor systems

Multi-sensor data fusion

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Communication skills

Education

BS in electrical engineering or related field

MS or PhD preferred

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Julia

Job description

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a senior radar and sensing engineer to advance signal processing and sensor architectures within complex system environments. The role emphasizes algorithm development, modeling, testing, and collaboration with sponsors.

You will lead verification, validation, and data analysis while mentoring junior staff and contributing to multi-disciplinary programs across defense sensing capabilities.