2027 Graduate - Mission Modeling, Simulation & Software Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory seeks a 2027 graduate to join an interdisciplinary team applying technical problem-solving to national defense challenges. The team develops prototypes and software, constructs simulations, performs analyses, and builds immersive experiences to help analysts and operators understand and improve the performance, training, and application of defense systems. The work aims to bridge people and platforms so performance can be understood, optimized, and trusted. The role modernizes mission capabilities through immersive training, intuitive interfaces, physics-based simulation, and data analytics, applying software engineering, modeling, AI, and visualization to improve mission understanding and performance. In the Modeling & Analysis role, the engineer develops tools, models, and technical assessments; explores missions, scenarios, operational-environment data, and system-of-systems interactions; and analyzes system datasets to inform decisions across design, acquisition, analysis, and operations. In the Software Engineering role, the engineer integrates game engines, software frameworks, physics models, simulation components, rendering systems, data sources, hardware interfaces, and external tools into reliable interactive capabilities. The role also involves profiling, debugging, and improving complex systems across performance constraints, and designing integrated systems and user interfaces that make complex domains intuitive to understand and navigate.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Applied Mathematics, Robotics, Physics, or a related field.
Skill or knowledge in one or more of MATLAB, C++, Python, Java, AI/ML, data analytics and visualization, web development (HTML/CSS, JavaScript), or GUI design.
Strong technical experience demonstrated through impact in at least one internship, research experience, and/or project outside the classroom.
Collaborative team orientation with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to obtain an Interim Secret-level security clearance by the start date and ultimately obtain a Top Secret-level clearance; eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Multiple internships, or research, capstone, or project leadership experience involving sophisticated systems.
Proficiency in at least one software area such as software architecture, automation, or applied AI-enabled workflows.
Interest or experience in visual storytelling, artistic expression, interactive design, or other creative approaches to communicating complex ideas.
Curiosity about people's experiences, perspectives, and workflows, and interest in designing technical solutions that reflect how people think and work.
Advanced experience with game-engine systems, real-time simulation, graphics, distributed systems, robotics, extended reality, or related performance-sensitive software.
Advanced experience with digital twin modeling and interfaces for real-time problem solving and diagnostics.

Responsibilities

Modernize mission capabilities through immersive training, intuitive interfaces, physics-based simulation, and data analytics.
Apply software engineering, modeling, AI, and visualization to improve mission understanding and performance.
Develop tools, models, and technical assessments to help collaborators evaluate capabilities in operational contexts.
Explore missions, scenarios, operational-environment data, and system-of-systems interactions.
Analyze system datasets and provide insights that influence decisions across design, acquisition, analysis, and operations.
Integrate game engines, custom software frameworks, physics models, simulation components, rendering systems, data sources, hardware interfaces, and external tools into reliable interactive capabilities.
Profile, debug, and improve complex software systems across CPU, GPU, memory, networking, storage, latency, throughput, load time, and real-time frame-budget constraints.
Design integrated systems and user interfaces that make complex domains intuitive to understand and navigate.