2026 PhD Graduate - Engineering/Mathematician - Simulation & Analysis

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

80d • $102,500 - $227,500

About The Position

Are you looking for exciting opportunities to help determine how to best defend the United States, our armed forces, and our allies from all forms of air and missile threats? Do you love to study something and find ways to make it better? If you are graduating with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics, Mathematics, or similar degrees and want to work in an exciting and collaborative environment to solve challenging technical national security problems, we'd love to have you join our team. We are seeking innovative and talented technical graduates to join our Multi-Domain System Concepts Group to conduct modeling and analysis, identify defensive systems gaps, and develop new system concepts to revolutionize defensive capabilities for the U.S. You would apply math, engineering, and physics knowledge to implement models and simulations and analyze new concepts including sensors, battle management and communications systems, and kinetic and non-kinetic defensive systems. You would develop expertise in analysis, algorithm development, optimization, and modeling and simulation of a wide variety of U.S. Navy, Missile Defense, and Space systems.

Requirements

• Have a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Physics, Mathematics, or similar program.
• Skilled in and/or have knowledge of programming and analysis, technical writing and presentation, as well as fundamental math and physics knowledge.
• Proficiency in using MATLAB to conduct analysis, conduct algorithm development, and/or create visualizations of data.
• Able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience with or domain knowledge of Navy, Missile Defense Agency, or Space Force systems.
• Have a final Secret or Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and assessment of Missile Defense systems.
• Model, analyze, and perform assessments of fielded systems and find opportunities for improvement.
• Propose and develop innovative concepts/algorithms to improve capabilities.
• Conduct analysis to assess potential future systems performance.
• Conduct parametric analyses using high performance computing capabilities.
• Develop prototype capabilities and work with real-world systems to transition ideas to fielded capabilities.
• Develop presentations to effectively communicate technical recommendations to APL leadership, government sponsors, and the engineering community.

Benefits

• Generous benefits including a robust education assistance program.
• Unparalleled retirement contributions.
• Healthy work/life balance.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees