Senior Radar & Sensor Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Sensor Systems Engineer to advance radar, sensing, and data fusion capabilities across complex architectures. You will develop and evaluate signal processing algorithms, model and simulate performance, and guide system analyses from concept to transition.

Collaborate with government sponsors and multidisciplinary teams, drive verification and validation studies, mentor junior staff, and present data-driven recommendations

Qualifications

• BS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Have 5+ years of experience developing, evaluating, or assessing signal processing algorithms, radar systems, sensor systems, classification or discrimination algorithms, or sensing architectures.
• Demonstrated expertise in radar signal processing, radar systems engineering, waveform analysis, detection and estimation theory, sensor phenomenology, sensor modeling, target characterization or discrimination, electronic sensing systems, resource management, system performance assessment, verification and validation, or radar/EO/IR system analysis.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar languages.
• Familiarity with tracking, state estimation, multi-sensor data fusion, or data association concepts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with government sponsors and delivering technical briefings.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.
• Hold an active Secret clearance and ability to obtain TS/SCI; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, evaluation, and evolution of advanced signal processing, radar, sensing, classification, and sensor performance algorithms.
• Support concept development, requirements analysis, and architecture trades for advanced radar and sensor systems.
• Evaluate end-to-end radar and sensor system performance including detection, discrimination, classification, and operational effectiveness.
• Perform verification, validation, test data analysis, and performance assessment for prototypes and operations.
• Analyze complex sensor systems including radar phenomenology, sensor integration, and system-of-systems interactions.
• Design and execute modeling, simulation, analysis, verification, and validation studies to inform capabilities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and sponsors to solve technical problems.
• Develop algorithmic prototypes and technical solutions advancing sensing and tracking capabilities.
• Lead technical studies, influence direction, and communicate results to sponsors and leadership.
• Mentor junior staff and contribute to a rigorous engineering environment.

Skills

Radar signal processing

Sensor systems engineering

Data fusion

Performance assessment

Verification & validation

Technical briefings

Security clearance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related technical field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Julia

Job description

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Sensor Systems Engineer to advance radar, sensing, and data fusion capabilities across complex architectures. You will develop and evaluate signal processing algorithms, model and simulate performance, and guide system analyses from concept to transition.

Collaborate with government sponsors and multidisciplinary teams, drive verification and validation studies, mentor junior staff, and present data-driven recommendations