Senior System Engineer for Special Operations

About the Role

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. The 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 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 related disciplines. The team 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 advance nationally important defense programs and provide critical input to strategic weapon systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide systems engineering thought leadership and expertise, combining system technical design knowledge and operational context to support cross-functional teams. Focus on requirements analysis, concept/technology development, risk assessments, and test & evaluation for strategic deterrent systems.
• Define, coordinate, and lead integration activities across multiple technical and programmatic domains, ensuring coherence across system elements, organizations, and program phases. Participate in and present at program technical reviews and acquisition milestone events.
• 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. Develop future weapon system requirements and participate in system requirement and design reviews.
• Work with system prime contractors and industry partners to advise, review, and contribute to assessments of systems engineering execution.
• Support and guide program-level decision making by developing and communicating technical positions, risk assessments, and trade-offs to senior government and program leadership.
• Deliver formal engineering artifacts to sponsors and supporting contractors, effectively communicating proposed concepts/solutions and analysis results. Produce reports that integrate concept definitions, requirements, analysis results, and technical recommendations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, physics, or another field relevant to the duties described.
• 5+ years of relevant experience performing systems engineering in the design, development, or evaluation of complex systems.
• Highly skilled in early concept development, requirements analysis, design, and risk assessment.
• 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.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills and the ability to interact effectively with and lead teams, including industry and government sponsors.
• Willing and able to travel periodically, including short-duration visits to sponsor offices and supporting contractor sites.
• Active Secret security clearance and ability to ultimately obtain a Top Secret clearance. U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Advanced degree in systems engineering.
• Highly skilled in systems engineering for electromagnetic systems.
• Demonstrated mission engineering expertise.
• Experience guiding the execution of Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition processes.
• Experience supporting special operations activities.
• Experience employing systems engineering software, especially model-based systems engineering tools like Cameo Enterprise Architecture.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.

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. 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. APL celebrates differences of perspectives and encourages 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: $105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate: $290,000 Annually

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. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may include a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

Benefits

APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Flexible spending accounts
• Education assistance and training and development