Strategic Systems Test Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL); Laurel (NE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking a Systems Test Engineer to shape test strategy for strategic weapon systems and support planning, execution, and analysis across programs. The role emphasizes MBSE, digital engineering, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in systems test engineering, strong communication skills, and willingness to travel 5–15% for sponsor offices and contractor sites. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or related technical field.
• At least 3 years of systems test engineering experience with complex systems.
• Experience in test planning, requirements analysis, design, and verification/validation.
• Familiarity with systems engineering plans and test masters.
• Experience developing systems engineering processes and metrics.
• Strong verbal and written communication and critical thinking.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams with industry and government partners.
• Willingness to travel 5–15% periodically, including short trips.
• U.S. citizenship with active Secret clearance and eligibility for Top Secret.

Responsibilities

• Shape test strategy and objectives for strategic weapon systems.
• Support test planning, execution, reporting, and risk assessment across lifecycle.
• Apply MBSE and digital engineering methods to system development.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and reports to sponsors and stakeholders.

Skills

Strong verbal and written comms

Critical thinking

Leadership in multidisciplinary teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or related field

Tools

Cameo Systems Modeler

DOORS

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Requirements

Must have:

• We require a bachelors degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• We need at least 3 years of systems test engineering experience supporting the development and test and evaluation of complex systems.
• We look for experience in test planning and execution, systems requirements analysis, system design and architecture understanding, verification and validation support, or similar systems test engineering work.
• We require familiarity with systems engineering management plans, test and evaluation master plans, integrated testing, ground test campaigns, or flight test activities.
• We expect experience developing systems engineering processes and technical performance metrics.
• We value strong verbal and written communication skills, along with solid critical thinking ability.
• We need demonstrated success working effectively with, and helping lead, multidisciplinary teams including industry and government partners.
• We require willingness and ability to travel periodically, approximately 5% to 15%, including short trips to sponsor offices, contractor locations, and other military sites.
• We require an active Secret clearance, the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance, and eligibility for access to classified information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Preferred:

• an advanced degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or a related technical field.
• 5 or more years of systems test engineering experience supporting complex system development and test and evaluation.
• demonstrated application of systems engineering approaches, including MBSE and digital engineering, to support design, development, and evaluation.
• familiarity with tools such as Cameo Systems Modeler, DOORS, Jira, and Confluence.
• experience supporting complex systems or systems-of-systems efforts in early program phases.
• experience with Navy Strategic Systems programs and/or Air Force ICBM programs.
• an active Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• We provide systems test engineering expertise to shape test strategy, support test planning and objectives, and contribute to test reporting and analysis for strategic weapon systems.
• We participate in projects, studies, and technical working groups covering requirements decomposition, concept and technology development, acquisition, test planning and execution, system evaluation, post-test data analysis, decision support, and risk assessment across the program lifecycle.
• We apply systems engineering methods and analyses, including model-based systems engineering and digital engineering, to support the development of strategic weapon systems.
• We prepare and deliver formal presentations and written reports that communicate technical recommendations, proposed solutions, and analysis results to sponsors and stakeholders.

Company

We are the System Realization and Resilience Group within the Force Projection Sector, and we focus on enabling the realization of strategic systems, strengthening resilience, integrating specialty disciplines throughout system development, and supporting credible verification of strategic weapon systems. Our team works across systems engineering, system security engineering, test and integration, digital engineering, nuclear command and control, and reliability engineering. We offer a collaborative, welcoming culture where you can grow, contribute your authentic perspective, and work alongside strong teammates.

• Our benefits include robust education assistance, exceptional retirement contributions, a healthy work/life balance, and a comprehensive package with medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, flexible spending accounts, education support, and training and development.

Our campus is in the Baltimore-Washington metro area, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.