Associate Software Engineer

About the role

We are looking for an Associate Software Engineer to help design, develop, and maintain critical software that supports National Security Space operations in a TS/SCI environment. You will work on scalable, secure, and observable systems for space-domain applications such as command-and-control, data processing, mission planning, and multi-domain integration tools. This role emphasizes DevSecOps practices, cloud-native architectures, and secure development/deployment in classified environments. You will work on distributed systems where reliability, security, performance, and auditability are essential, and you will receive mentorship from senior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Assist in designing and implementing backend services, APIs, and data pipelines for space-operations software.
• Help build and maintain containerized applications and contribute to CI/CD pipelines under guidance.
• Participate in adding security controls throughout the development lifecycle (DevSecOps).
• Support development of event-driven or messaging-based components (e.g., basic Kafka/RabbitMQ usage).
• Follow compliance procedures for classified environments, including air-gapped deployments and controlled updates.
• Identify and solve issues, monitor, and improve system performance and observability in test and staging environments.
• Participate in code reviews, learn from architecture discussions, and receive mentorship on standard methodologies.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience (internships, open-source contributions, capstone projects).
• 2+ years of full software engineering experience, including software design methodology, requirements development, configuration management, trade studies, and product defect tracking.
• Basic proficiency in at least one modern language/stack (C++, Java, or Python). Academic projects, internships, or personal code are acceptable.
• Foundational Docker knowledge (building and running containers) and exposure to Kubernetes concepts (pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Helm charts).
• Experience (or coursework) creating simple CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins) that run builds, tests, and basic security scans.
• Understanding of REST APIs, OpenAPI/Swagger documentation basics, and JSON data exchange (Protobuf a plus).
• Familiarity with testing practices – writing unit tests and basic integration tests.
• Comfortable using Git (feature branches, pull requests, and code reviews).
• Possess interpersonal skills and are an effective communicator.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Able to obtain a Top-Secret level security clearance. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Possess a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Experience with DevOps Engineering or Process Automation.
• Experience with cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services, Azure, Google Cloud.
• Knowledge of logging frameworks (Log4j/SLF4J), ELK stack, Prometheus, Grafana.
• Introductory experience with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or other async patterns.
• Experience with Unix, Linux, and network computing.
• Well-versed in using professional software development tools such as integrated development environments (IDE), version control, issue trackers, debuggers, and continuous integration tools.
• Willing to lead teams through integration processes.
• Interest or experience with space-related software, real-time systems, or large-scale data processing.
• Knowledge of cross-domain solutions or high-assurance system integration is a plus.

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.

Pay

Minimum Rate $85,000 Annually
Maximum Rate $195,000 Annually

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.

Benefits

• 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.