Cyber Systems Engineer/Analyst

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

1d

About The Position

The Cyber Warfare Systems Group (QCR) supports U.S. military cyber missions and joint operations by developing offensive security capabilities and non-kinetic mission defeat solutions. The group uses systems engineering principles to help execute complex cyber operations at scale. Its research areas include analysis and targeting, cyber layer modeling, cybersecurity, and human systems modeling.

The Cyber Operations Systems Engineer/Analyst applies knowledge of operational concepts across mission, infrastructure, platform, service, and endpoint layers to improve capabilities throughout the systems engineering lifecycle and their transition to operational use. The role works with government and operational stakeholders to understand mission needs, define requirements and architectures, communicate technical risks and limitations, and lead multidisciplinary teams in designing and developing systems for cyber operations. The engineer also works with developers on testing, evaluation, and independent verification and validation, and mentors team members.

APL describes its culture as welcoming and collaborative, encouraging creativity, growth, and strong connections among colleagues. The organization offers eligible staff a comprehensive benefits package and accepts applications on a rolling basis. The position is based at APL’s campus in the Baltimore-Washington metro area; the posting does not specify a work arrangement.

Requirements

• Enjoy creating, building, and delivering solutions to challenging problems.
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering- or cybersecurity-related field, or another degree plus at least 2 years of relevant military or government operational experience.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience developing concepts, systems, or analytics, with an understanding of systems engineering or operational planning techniques.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; outstanding oral and written communication skills; good organizational skills; and ability to lead and work in teams.
• Experience with Department of Defense (DoD) and/or Intelligence Community (IC) cyber operations or mission forces.
• Active Top Secret security clearance and ability to ultimately obtain a TS/SCI Poly clearance. U.S. citizenship and eligibility to access classified information are required.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in engineering, science, or another related discipline.
• 10 or more years of experience designing, developing, and deploying complex systems or analytics, focused on full-spectrum cyber operations.
• Experience conducting research, development, and testing of offensive cyber capabilities.
• Ability to use LLM-based agents to automate simple or complex tasks.
• Proficiency in defense-critical foreign languages.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Apply understanding of mission, infrastructure, platform, service, and endpoint operational concepts to improve capabilities throughout the systems engineering lifecycle and transition them to the operational environment.
• Use systems engineering or analysis expertise to help ensure cyber operations systems are designed and developed effectively and in an orderly manner.
• Work with government stakeholders and decision makers to ensure systems meet operational needs and communicate technical risks and limitations.
• Collaborate with operational stakeholders to document their needs and translate them into well-defined requirements and a comprehensive architecture.
• Lead multidisciplinary efforts to design and develop systems that meet operational requirements, particularly capabilities supporting cyber operations.
• Work with developers to ensure systems meet operational needs and requirements through testing, evaluation, and independent verification and validation (IV&V) using standard, industry-accepted methodologies.
• Mentor and guide team members and help develop future leaders and technical experts.

Benefits

• Robust education assistance program and education assistance.
• Retirement plans and unparalleled retirement contributions.
• Paid time off and a healthy work/life balance.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Training and development.
• Possible sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior