Associate Systems/Test and Evaluation Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is for an entry-level engineer with a strong technical background in engineering, computer science, or a related field, interested in Test & Evaluation (T&E) and Systems Engineering (SE). The position involves planning and executing technical tests and experiments, performing data reduction and analysis, and supporting the development of C4ISR system architectures and technical reports for government sponsors. The role requires systems thinking, strong communication skills for collaboration, and an interest in applied AI technologies is a plus. The Intelligent Combat Systems Group focuses on advancing artificial intelligence, autonomy, manned-unmanned teaming, and intelligent combat systems to ensure the nation maintains an operational advantage. They develop, integrate, and evaluate innovative technologies for military sponsors, working across government, industry, and academia to plan and execute experiments, develop system architectures, analyze complex datasets, and provide technical insights for capability transitions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical field such as Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline.
At least 1 year of experience in Test & Evaluation and Systems Engineering.
Evidence of being a systems thinker, able to understand and reason about complex, interconnected systems and mission threads.
Experience with data analysis tools or methods (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Excel, or similar).
Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to work effectively across teams and organizations and contribute to technical reports and presentations.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams, manage multiple tasks, and follow through on commitments.
Hold an active Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to systems engineering methods (requirements analysis, functional decomposition, interface definition, architecture modeling).
Experience with test planning and execution (test plans, procedures, data collection) in laboratory or field environments.
Familiarity with C4ISR systems or mission concepts in defense or national security contexts.
Interest or experience in applied AI / machine learning technologies and their use in intelligent combat or decision-support systems.
Experience with MBSE tools or approaches (e.g., SysML, Cameo/MagicDraw, Enterprise Architect) and/or scripting/automation (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
Have an active Secret or higher security clearance.

Responsibilities

Support planning and coordination of technical tests, experiments, and demonstrations (including classified/high-side events).
Assist with event execution, including setup, configuration checks, data collection, and real-time coordination with internal and external participants.
Contribute to post-event reviews, capturing observations, issues, and lessons learned to inform future events.
Perform data reduction (cleaning, organizing, and basic processing of event data).
Conduct basic quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess system performance and identify trends and issues.
Assist in preparation of test plans, data summaries, and technical reports, as well as briefings for sponsors and cross-organizational stakeholders.
Apply systems thinking to support C4ISR architecture development, including system functions, interfaces, and data flows at the system-of-systems level.
Contribute to meta model development and automation to capture requirements, interfaces, and constraints in SE and T&E processes.
Help apply model-based or tool-assisted approaches and support integration of applied AI technologies where appropriate to improve traceability and repeatability.
Assist with coordination and governance activities for cross-team and cross-organizational working groups and leadership forums.
Use strong verbal and written communication skills to support stakeholder management, including scheduling, status tracking, and action-item follow-up with sponsors and partners.
Provide administrative and logistical support (room reservations, calendar coordination, visit requests, documentation control) to enable effective technical execution.