2027 Graduate - Electrical or Computer Engineer - Miniature Device Technologies

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Miniature Device Technologies Group develops highly customized tools and techniques required to carry out missions around the globe. We leverage our capabilities in mixed-signal application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), printed circuit board (PCB), embedded software, field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and signal processing design to create ultra-small, low-power solutions that exceed comparable commercial alternatives. This capability set provides the end user with a distinct advantage when conducting low-profile radio frequency (RF) communications, electronic countermeasures, and field-forward sensing. The boutique nature of these solutions, which reside between pure research and production, allow us to continually pursue new designs while still seeing our work used operationally. In addition to a solid academic record and a strong resume, we value candidates with a demonstrated ability to work and communicate effectively within a team environment. This includes the ability to convey technical concepts clearly and effectively in presentations and written documentation. As part of our interdisciplinary engineering team, you will use your skills to develop innovative, high-impact solutions to some of the most challenging issues facing the United States.

Requirements

Earned a Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Math, or a similar major.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work independently, and to collaborate effectively.
Hands‑on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, etc).
Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: Analog/Digital ASIC (verification, layout, mixed-signal simulation, backend, design).
Hands-on experience in C and/or C++ development through coursework, internships, co-op projects, or open-source contribution.
Digital logic design using hardware description languages (Verilog, VHDL).
Digital signal processing (familiarity with MATLAB modeling, communication systems, detection and estimation theory).
Writing scripts for automated tests (Python, LabView, MATLAB).
Willing and able to support travel if necessary.
Can analyze data, present findings, and solve moderately complex problems.
Able to obtain Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Math, or a similar major.
Able to contribute in more than one place across the team in a vertically-integrated, end-to-end product development effort including hardware, signal processing, software development, prototyping, production and test.
Experience using AI-assisted development tools such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Codex, or agentic coding tools to improve productivity, code quality, and debugging.
Used automated test frameworks or infrastructure (e.g., GitLab CI-CD, Docker, GoogleTest, pytest, NI TestStand, CI-based hardware regression).
Able to read and interpret schematics.
Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: ASIC design software from Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens.
Programming in assembly language for ARM Cortex-M or similar cores.
Designing and implementing real-time embedded firmware for ARM-based or comparable modern micro-controllers.
Software configuration management tools, bug tracking tools, and peer review tools, such as GitLab, Jira, and Jenkins.
Understand or have experience with a real time operating system (RTOS).
FPGA-based implementation of signal processing algorithms for resource-constrained embedded systems.
Software-defined radio architectures and commercial transceiver chip interfaces.
Writing drivers for the following protocols: RS‑232, SPI, CAN, I²C, UART, Ethernet, USB.
Common IOT communication frameworks LoRa, Bluetooth Classic or Low Energy, 802.11 family.
Memory safe languages like Rust on embedded platforms.

Responsibilities

Assist in the development of miniature wireless systems through contributions to the design, implementation and test of low power ASICs, embedded software applications, and board-level integration.
Support evaluation of prototype devices and systems through laboratory testing.
Develop and execute test plans to verify system performance.
Identify and resolve challenging issues through active debugging.
Participate in field evaluation of applications.
Rapidly modify relevant subsystem according to test results and also in response to evolving technical and operational requirements.
Document work in formal technical reports and informal memoranda.
Present work to sponsors and the technical community.