Space Operations Planning and Simulation Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance program

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible work/life balance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland, is seeking a Space Operations Planning and Simulation Engineer to enhance a flight-proven software framework for autonomous operations. You will have the opportunity to develop simulation capabilities and engage in conflicts resolution while working with a team dedicated to national security.

The ideal candidate holds a degree in relevant fields and possesses strong programming experience, along with over four years of field knowledge. This impactful role emphasizes collaborative teamwork and innovative solutions in simulated environments.

Qualifications

• Strong programming experience in Java or similar object-oriented languages.
• 4+ years of experience in software for simulations or analysis tools.
• Solid understanding of orbital mechanics or spacecraft operations.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement modules for planning and scheduling.
• Develop algorithms for opportunity detection and command generation.
• Collaborate with mission analysts to translate operational needs into software solutions.

Skills

Java programming

Problem-solving

Communication

Software Development

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics

Tools

MATLAB

Linux

HPC environments

Job description

Description

Are you interested in changing science fiction into reality for our national security in space?

Are you passionate about creating algorithms for autonomous spacecraft operations?

Do you want to work with brilliant colleagues on challenging problems while still having work‑life balance?

If so, we're looking for someone like you on our team at APL!

Join our team as a Space Operations Planning and Simulation Engineer to enhance a mature, flight‑proven software framework used for autonomous science observation planning, scheduling, and spacecraft commanding. You will develop new capabilities in high‑fidelity simulation, opportunity detection, conflict resolution, command sequence generation, and performance optimization. This role offers the chance to directly impact national security and scientific space missions by making operations faster, smarter, and more scalable. This role emphasizes modern DevSecOps practices, cloud‑native architectures, and secure development/deployment in classified environments.

As a Space Operations Planning and Simulation Engineer you will…

• Design and implement new modules for autonomous planning, scheduling, and conflict resolution
• Extend simulation capabilities for orbital mechanics, sensor observations, and end‑to‑end kill chains / engagement scenarios
• Develop algorithms for opportunity detection, resource optimization, and command sequence generation
• Integrate with MATLAB, Linux/HPC environments, and existing modeling tools
• Collaborate with mission analysts, systems engineers, and sponsors to translate operational needs into robust software solutions
• Document, test, and present new capabilities to internal teams and external stakeholders

Qualifications

You meet the minimum qualifications if you…

• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Have strong programming experience in Java (or similar object‑oriented languages) for building complex, modular software systems.
• Possess 4+ years of experience developing software for simulations, modeling, or analysis tools — preferably in aerospace, space operations, or scientific computing domains.
• Have a solid understanding of orbital mechanics, spacecraft operations, or related physical systems.
• Have demonstrated ability to design, implement, test, and document new software features or modules.
• Possess strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a small, high‑impact team.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical presentations for internal teams and external sponsors.
• Are able to obtain a TS/SCI+poly level security 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 direct experience with spacecraft mission planning, scheduling, commanding, or autonomous operations software.
• Have a background in constraint‑based scheduling, opportunity detection algorithms, or optimization techniques.
• Have demonstrated experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins) including build, test, security scanning, and deployment stages.
• Possess demonstrated proficiency with modern software best practices.

About Us

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world‑class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. 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. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

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

$100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 Annually