Modeling & Simulation Research Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

The Research Engineer will join the Air Combat and Strike Mission Analysis team at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), helping turn mission-level simulation into decisions that shape next-generation strike and air-dominance systems. The role combines software development with research and analysis, working collaboratively with developers and analysts to address multifaceted challenges. Approximately half of the work involves developing and validating C++ modeling and simulation capabilities that represent multi-domain mission-system behaviors. This includes taking capabilities from requirements and code design through implementation, as well as building Python and C++ tools for scenario generation, data processing, and simulation regression. Approximately half of the work involves research and analysis. The engineer conducts research and development on real-world mission-system behaviors to ground models in actual system performance, analyzes simulation output to assess military utility, system requirements, and capability tradeoffs, and translates analyst needs into modeling requirements that guide simulation development.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in physics, mathematics, software engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience building robust, maintainable software with modern C++17 or newer, including numerical methods or modeling complex phenomena.
Proficiency in Python for analysis and automation.
Experience designing and conducting experiments using simulation, modeling, or data-driven methods to evaluate hypotheses and inform technical decisions.
Experience translating research concepts, algorithms, or analytical results into practical software prototypes and evaluating their performance.
Ability to communicate clearly with developers and end-users about technical issues, tradeoffs, and new features.
Passion for learning new concepts and growing personal skills.
Ability to obtain the required Special Access Program (SAP) level access.
Ability to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance and ultimately obtain a Top Secret clearance. Eligibility for access to classified information requires U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Master's or PhD in a related field.
Experience with the Advanced Framework for Simulation, Integration and Modeling (AFSIM) and its plugins.
Experience with communications, sensing, tracking and filtering, data fusion, or electronic warfare.
Experience applying machine learning to physics or engineering problems.
Experience running simulations on high-performance computing platforms.
Familiarity with DevSecOps tools including GitLab, Docker, CMake, and Conan.

Responsibilities

Develop and validate C++ modeling and simulation capabilities representing multi-domain mission-system behaviors, from requirements and code design through implementation.
Build Python and C++ tools for scenario generation, data processing, and simulation regression.
Conduct research and development on real-world mission-system behaviors to ground models in actual system performance.
Analyze simulation output to assess military utility, system requirements, and capability tradeoffs.
Translate analyst needs into modeling requirements that guide simulation work.
Communicate technical issues, tradeoffs, and new features clearly with developers and end-users.

Benefits

Robust education assistance program and education assistance.
Retirement plans and unparalleled retirement contributions.
Paid time off.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Short-term disability insurance.
Long-term disability insurance.
Flexible spending accounts.
Training and development.
Potential sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance, subject to eligibility and applicable policy.