Cyber Mission Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you energized by bringing together operators, intelligence professionals, platform engineers, developers, testers, and senior leaders to integrate cyber capabilities into larger mission systems? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. We are seeking an experienced Cyber Mission Engineer to turn complex operational needs into integrated cyber capabilities that advance U.S. missions. You will combine mission understanding, systems engineering rigor, and technical breadth to translate objectives into requirements and guide capabilities from concept through development, integration, test, and operational transition. Working with developers, operators, engineers, researchers, industry, and academia, you will ensure solutions are technically feasible, operationally viable, and aligned with the larger mission system. We foster collaboration, professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance.

Requirements

Possess a Bachelors or equivalent professional experience in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Cybersecurity, Physics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or another relevant technical field.
Have at least eight years of relevant experience in cyber capability development, mission or systems engineering, cyber operations, technical integration, test and evaluation, applied research, or a related national-security field.
Have led or played a central technical-integration role on an effort that progressed through multiple lifecycle stages, and have translated ambiguous mission needs or concepts of operation into requirements, architectures, interfaces, test criteria, and executable plans.
Bring demonstrated technical depth in domains such as software, hardware, networking, RF, embedded systems, cybersecurity, modeling, development, reverse engineering, or test.
Have experience leading cross-functional technical teams, coordinating partner organizations or external performers, mentoring staff, managing technical dependencies and risks, and communicating complex concepts to operators, engineers, program leaders, and senior decision-makers.
Are able to obtain an Interim Top-Secret-level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI+polygraph. 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

Possess an MS or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Physics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related technical field; contributions to mission-relevant papers, patents, standards, or conference presentations are also valued.
Have experience working directly or in an embedded capacity with an operational sponsor, mission owner, system owner, or command and rapidly developing an understanding of its mission, relationships, processes, and decision environment.
Have led a capability from an ambiguous operational need through integration and test to operational demonstration, transition, or fielding, including development of mission threads, concepts of operation, architectures, roadmaps, requirements, verification plans, or technical-review packages.
Have experience integrating cyber or other non-kinetic capabilities with mission-critical platforms, command-and-control systems, operator workflows, RF systems, embedded systems, or other multi-domain mission elements.
Have planned, coordinated, or integrated cyber or other special technical operations at the tactical or operational level; served as a cyber operator, mission planner, technical director, system integrator, or operational test lead; or completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I.
Have led portfolio areas or multi-organization teams and presented technical status, risks, alternatives, and recommendations to senior executive or flag/general officer-level audiences.
Have experience working across security regimes and at different cadences and technical environments, from focused foundational research efforts to supporting high operational tempo activities.
Hold an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph.

Responsibilities

Develop a deep understanding of sponsor missions and concepts of operation, and translate operational objectives, constraints, threats, and risks into requirements, architectures, interfaces, test criteria, and executable plans.
Lead the development, integration, test, evaluation, and transition of cyber capabilities within larger mission systems.
Lead and/or work within multidisciplinary teams and partner organizations, define technical scope and priorities, manage dependencies and risks, and mentor engineers in their technical and professional development.
Build trusted sponsor and partner relationships, and develop and present technical, strategic, and decisional briefings that clearly communicate status, risks, alternatives, and recommendations.