Senior Digital Systems Engineer

About the role

The Mission Engineering Group of the Force Projection Sector at JHU/APL is seeking a Senior Digital Systems Engineer to lead mission-focused systems and digital engineering efforts.

Responsibilities

• Lead mission-focused systems and digital engineering efforts by applying systems thinking and mission engineering to translate warfighter needs into mission architectures and system requirements.
• Lead the development and promotion of digital models, including Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) models (e.g., SysML/UAF), of mission and system architectures for the design and implementation of complex systems and systems-of-systems critical to the warfighter.
• Design and refine digital engineering workflows, integrations, and reusable model patterns for APL and our sponsors.
• Arcitect and guide implementation of mission-critical systems with a focus on scalability, resilience, performance, and security.
• Ensure rigorous systems and mission engineering practices, including reviews, documentation, model governance, and risk management.
• Collaborate with APL teams, government sponsors, warfighters, and industry partners to deliver mission-relevant solutions.
• Engage with senior government, industry, and national laboratory leadership on fast-paced, high-visibility defense programs.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, helping shape engineering culture and best practices.
• Document and present your results to project leads, sponsors, and technical workshops, conferences, and pivotal decision makers.

Requirements

• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or a related technical field.
• Have at least seven years of relevant systems engineering lifecycle experience with complex systems or systems-of-systems.
• Have at least two years of practical MBSE experience developing mission architectures using UAF, with hands-on UML/SysML/UAF modeling in tools such as Cameo/MagicDraw, Rhapsody, or Sparx EA, and the ability to link operational needs to system capabilities using the mission engineering process.
• Communicate clearly in writing and verbally, and can explain complex technical concepts to wide-ranging audiences.
• Be willing and able to work a portion of the time in secure, closed areas and travel occasionally to government sites and contractor facilities (local and non-local).
• Be able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance.

Qualifications

• Have a master's or doctorate degree in systems engineering, engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or another related technical field.
• Have at least ten years of experience performing systems engineering in the design, development, and/or evaluation of complex systems or systems-of-systems.
• Have deep digital engineering/MBSE expertise (e.g., broad tooling knowledge, Cameo/MagicDraw API, tool integration, digital ecosystem interoperability, Python/Java for MBSE).
• Have led large or multi-team engineering efforts, providing architectural direction and driving adoption of digital engineering and MBSE across organizations.
• Have relevant Object Management Group (OMG) or other systems engineering certifications.
• Have experience with tool integration, digital connectors, or digital ecosystem interoperability (e.g., connecting MBSE tools with requirements, simulation, test, or configuration management tools).
• Have programming experience in Python and/or Java, particularly in support of MBSE, data processing, or tool integration.
• Be experienced with DevSecOps toolchains (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, SAST/DAST tools) and can describe advanced digital engineering and development ecosystems.
• Bring prior experience in defense, intelligence, or related mission domains, including working with operational users and/or in classified environments.
• Have experience leading mission engineering efforts that span all disciplines described in the Mission Engineering Guide.
• Hold an active TS/SCI level security clearance.