Space Kill Chain Engineer — End-to-End Systems Architect

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in the Baltimore‑Washington area seeks an experienced systems engineer to inform the future of our nation’s space architectures and kill chains. You will join a team delivering end-to-end systems, from concept through prototyping and testing, across a multi-disciplinary environment.

You’ll drive traceability from enterprise needs to developed systems, apply MBSE and modeling tools, and coordinate with software, data science, and analysis teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a systems-related field.
• 10+ years in systems engineering of kill chains, weapons systems, or C2 systems.
• Deriving top-level requirements and decomposing them.
• Strong analytical, verbal, and written skills.
• Experience with Python, C++, Java, or MATLAB.
• MBSE techniques on programs with clear communication to sponsors.
• Ability to trace data flows in complex architectures.
• Eligible for U.S. citizenship and security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize threat kill chains using space-based systems to meet warfighter and intelligence needs.
• Maintain traceability between enterprise needs and developed systems.
• Use systems engineering and simulation tools to understand requirements and performance.
• Drive mission engineering, systems engineering, prototyping, and testing/evaluation of novel capabilities.
• Design/refine interface messages between federated systems.
• Oversee lifecycle phases to ensure fielded systems meet needs.
• Lead software implementation of POC prototypes across engineering fields.

Skills

MBSE

Systems thinking

Kill chain experience

Analytical skills

Clearance eligibility

Travel up to 10%

Education

Bachelor's degree in systems engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, statistics, or related field

Tools

Python

C++

Java

MATLAB

UML/SysML modeling (Cameo/Rhapsody/SPARX EA)

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in the Baltimore‑Washington area seeks an experienced systems engineer to inform the future of our nation’s space architectures and kill chains. You will join a team delivering end-to-end systems, from concept through prototyping and testing, across a multi-disciplinary environment.

You’ll drive traceability from enterprise needs to developed systems, apply MBSE and modeling tools, and coordinate with software, data science, and analysis teams to