2026 PhD Graduate - Autonomous Systems Seeker and Sensor Engineer

About the role

Are you looking for a career building deep expertise in a technical area critical to our national defense? Do you wish to collaborate with and learn from some of the country’s top seeker and sensor subject matter experts? If so, the Strike Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC), and Seekers group is looking for newly graduating PhD engineers, mathematicians, physicists, and scientists like you!

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.

Qualifications

• Have a PhD in an Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Mathematics.
• Be passionate about creative problem solving and applying your skills to the design and development of our nation’s next generation weapons and autonomous systems.
• Have academic background and interest in one or more of the technical areas listed above.
• Conduct research; complete one or more internships; and/or possess practical skills in RF, EO/IR or related fields.
• Able to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance.

What you’ll do

• Conduct cutting-edge seeker and sensor research, design, modeling, simulation, and analysis while collaborating with adjacent technical domains in the development of next-generation autonomous systems and weapons.
• Develop innovative ways of simulating and predicting seeker and sensor performance in complex operational environments.
• Lab test seeker and sensor hardware and software to identify operational capabilities and limitations.
• Work closely with seeker and sensor subject matter experts who will train and mentor you on your path to attaining deeper technical knowledge and experience.
• Collaborate with our teams of engineers and interact with government sponsors, including platform designers in multi-disciplinary optimization studies for early-phase vehicle development.
• Continue your education through a variety of educational opportunities such as technical short courses, graduate degree programs, and many more.

Benefits

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have classroom, project, or internship experience working with seekers, sensors, and/or autonomous systems.
• Have familiarity with complimentary disciplines such as: modeling, simulation and analysis; design optimization; software or algorithm development; and hardware testing.