2027 Graduate - Analyst/Researcher - Cyber Capabilities Development

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is for a 2027 Graduate Analyst/Researcher within the Cyber Warfare Systems Group (QCR). The QCR team applies analytical, research, policy, data, or language skills to solve challenging cyber operations problems for the U.S. military. They focus on offensive security operations and non-kinetic mission defeat, addressing complex cyber operations challenges and executing cyber missions at scale. The team brings together individuals with multidisciplinary backgrounds because complex cyber operations problems often span technology, intelligence, data, human behavior, and mission understanding. Research areas include analysis and targeting, cyber-layer modeling, cybersecurity, and human-systems modeling. In this role, you will apply analytical and research skills to understand complex cyber mission environments and translate information into actionable mission insight. Depending on your background and interests, responsibilities may include investigating complex questions using various research methods, analyzing global events and adversary behavior, applying analytical methods like targeting and network analysis, developing assessments and decision support approaches, critically evaluating AI-enabled analytical tools, and partnering with technical and operational teams.

Requirements

Graduating with or have recently completed a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a field relevant to our work, such as Intelligence Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Foreign Language, Psychology, Data Science, Statistics, Economics, or a related analytical discipline.
Academic, research, internship, or professional experience in one or more areas such as intelligence analysis, targeting, open-source intelligence (OSINT), publicly available information (PAI), commercially available information (CAI), geopolitical analysis, foreign language analysis, data analysis, graph theory, network analysis, penetration testing, cyber threat intelligence, human behavior, or related fields.
Enjoy investigating ambiguous questions, identifying patterns and connections, evaluating evidence, and translating findings into useful insights.
Can critically evaluate analytical methods and tools, including AI-enabled approaches, and distinguish evidence-supported conclusions from unsupported assumptions.
Can effectively communicate information, concepts, findings, and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
Have a passion for applying analytical and research expertise to complex national security and cyber mission challenges.
Able to acquire an Interim Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a Top Secret with SCI level clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance eligibility.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on cybersecurity, vulnerability research, information security, networking, software, or other technical experience that helps you connect analytical findings to cyber systems and operations.
Proficiency in defense-critical foreign languages or experience applying language and cultural expertise to complex analytical problems.
Experience applying AI/ML, large language models, or AI agents to research, analysis, automation, or other complex tasks and understand the opportunities, limitations, and risks associated with using AI in mission-critical environments.
Demonstrated leadership, initiative, or the ability to bring people together to accomplish challenging goals.
Understand defense and intelligence sponsor operations and processes such as acquisition, sustainment, risk management, or test and evaluation.
An active Secret-level clearance or above.

Responsibilities

Apply analytical and research skills to develop a deeper understanding of complex cyber mission environments and turn information into actionable mission insight.
Investigate complex questions using intelligence analysis, open-source information, publicly or commercially available information, data, foreign-language sources, and other research methods.
Analyze global events, adversary behavior, mission vulnerabilities, relationships, networks, and other factors that shape cyber operations.
Apply analytical methods such as targeting, graph theory, network analysis, data science, structured analytic techniques, or human-systems analysis to complex mission problems.
Develop assessments, analytical methods, data products, and decision support approaches that translate complex information into meaningful mission insight.
Use and critically evaluate AI-enabled analytical tools, understanding both their potential and their limitations in complex mission environments.
Partner with technical, operational, government, contractor, and APL teammates as analysis informs capability development and mission execution.