2027 PhD Graduate - Autonomous Systems Design Engineer: Controls, Navigation, Sensors, and Simulation

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Strike Guidance, Navigation, Controls (GNC), and Seekers group is seeking PhD graduates with a background in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Science. The group's mission is to maintain the United States' technological advantage in autonomous systems through next-generation development and prototyping. They focus on Guidance, Navigation, and Controls; RF or EO/IR Sensors; Modeling and Simulation (M&S); Hardware/Software Development and Test; and Multi-Disciplinary Design Optimization. The role involves pioneering design and research in GNC algorithms, developing models for simulating complex physics and sensors, testing software and algorithms in embedded systems, applying multi-disciplinary optimization for vehicle designs, developing software for simulation and algorithm development, and collaborating with a team of engineers and government sponsors. The team works on various systems including hypersonic missiles, submarines, cruise missiles, and autonomous flight vehicles, offering opportunities for professional growth across these technologies.

Requirements

Pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or Computer Science.
Proven internship experience or extensive classroom project work in one or more of the following areas: guidance, inertial navigation, modern/adaptive control, classical control, optimization; electromagnetic wave propagation, RF antennas, optics, signal and image processing, radar, programming/coding; dynamics, programming/coding, algorithms, optimization; hardware testing, embedded systems, sensor testing, artificial intelligence, and software development.
Skilled in or have knowledge of coding practices in Matlab/Simulink, C++, Python, or other languages.
Curiosity and appetite for exploring and solving hard problems.
Ability to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by the start date and ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance.
Minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance eligibility.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience developing and analyzing control/dynamical systems or sensors.

Responsibilities

Pioneer design and research in guidance, navigation, and control algorithms in support of the full lifecycle development of advanced systems.
Develop innovative models for simulating and analyzing a variety of complex physics and sensors.
Test the capability of software and algorithms within an embedded systems environment.
Apply multi-disciplinary optimization techniques for early phase vehicle designs.
Develop software to support sophisticated simulation and algorithm development.
Collaborate with a team of engineers and interact with government sponsors.