Senior System Engineer for Special Operations

Are you passionate about providing real, immediate impact to the country’s toughest national security problems?

Do you love combining management and engineering, identifying requirements, defining test cases, building integrated master schedules surrounding complex systems?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

Our team provides creative solutions and systems for Special Operations missions in the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. 

We are seeking a senior systems engineer to join the Signals Exploitation Group within the Asymmetric Operations Sector. Our team focuses on advanced hardware and software in the electromagnetic domain to establish a dominant intelligence advantage in noisy and complex signal environments. By exploiting radio frequency and optical signals and data, we are able to detect, enhance, create, and suppress signatures used to find targets of interest. The technical competencies required include integrated circuit design, RF electronics, device manufacturing, materials, embedded software, signal processing, laser optics, machine learning, image analysis, and many related disciplines. QP has deep experience in developing, testing, and rapidly fielding operational systems that function in a wide variety of environments, providing critical and timely information, intelligence, and situational awareness. Rigorous systems engineering provides the foundation for all of these activities Your contributions will be key to advancing nationally important defense programs and providing critical contributions to strategic weapon systems.

As a Senior Systems Engineer

• Your primary responsibility will be to provide systems engineering thought leadership and expertise, in combination with system technical design knowledge and operational context, to cross functional teams, focusing on requirements analysis, concept/technology development, risk assessments and test & evaluation for strategic deterrent systems.
• You will help define, coordinate, and, when required, lead integration activities across multiple technical and programmatic domains, ensuring coherence across system elements, organizations, and program phases. This includes participation in, and, as required, presentations at program technical reviews and acquisition milestone events.
• You will use tools, processes, methodologies, and prime contractor-generated design artifacts, test data and analysis results to evaluate system fulfillment of stakeholder needs and government requirements, and develop future weapon system requirements. As required, you will participate in system requirement and design reviews.
• You will work with system prime contractors and other industry partners to advise, review, and contribute to assessments systems engineering execution.
• You will support and guide program-level decision making by developing and communicating technical positions, risk assessments, and trade-offs to senior government and program leadership.
• You will deliver formal engineering artifacts to sponsors and supporting contractors, and effectively communicate proposed concepts/solutions and analysis results. You will produce reports that bring together concept definitions, requirements, analysis results, and technical recommendations.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics or another field relevant to the duties as described above
• Have 5+ years of relevant experience performing systems engineering in the design, development or evaluation of complex systems.
• Are highly skilled in early concept development, requirements analysis, design, and risk assessment.
• Have experience supporting test and evaluation activities, such as developing test plans, participating in field tests for data collection, conducting analysis for requirements verification, and writing test reports.
• Have especially strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills.
• Have shown the ability to interact effectively with and lead teams, including industry and government sponsors.
• Are willing and able to travel periodically, including short duration visits to sponsor offices and supporting contractor sites.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret 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 an advanced degree in systems engineering.
• Are highly skilled in systems engineering for electromagnetic systems.
• Have demonstrated mission engineering expertise.
• Have experience guiding the execution of Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition processes.
• Have experience supporting special operations activities.
• Have experience employing systems engineering software, especially model based systems engineering tools like Cameo Enterprise Architecture.
• Hold an active Top Secret security clearance.

Why Work at APL?

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 https://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 [email protected].

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.