National Airspace Safety Research Scientist & Technical Lead

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

10d

About The Position

APL's Critical Infrastructure Protection Group seeks a National Airspace Safety Research Scientist and Technical Lead to define and execute applied research in aviation safety and security. The role combines deep airspace expertise with leadership of interdisciplinary teams working on the safe integration of trusted systems into the National Airspace System (NAS), including autonomous and AI/ML-enabled capabilities.

The group develops capabilities for operational settings through modeling and simulation, field-data analysis, monitoring, prediction, estimation and control, and systems integration. The role may involve using and helping shape research facilities such as the CYPRESS Laboratory. It also advances research toward application through prototypes, integration demonstrations, field-data collection, and flight testing as appropriate.

Requirements

• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, systems engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or another field related to the duties, and at least five years of experience.
• Substantive research or engineering experience involving the NAS, aviation safety, air traffic management, aircraft collision avoidance, or airspace integration.
• Ability to lead technically complex research from problem formulation through analysis, validation, and clear recommendations.
• Hands-on experience in modeling, simulation, and data analysis, with proficiency in at least one relevant programming environment such as Python, MATLAB, or C/C++.
• Strong communication, collaborative leadership, and systems-thinking skills for multidisciplinary and sponsor-facing work.
• Ability to obtain Interim Secret-level security clearance by the start date and ultimately obtain Top Secret-level clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for eligibility to access classified information.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. candidate nearing completion with a demonstrated record of independent research.
• Expertise in safety assurance, decision-making under uncertainty, trusted autonomy, AI/ML, or robust monitoring, prediction, and control.
• Experience with operational aviation data, integrated testing, flight testing, or transitioning research into operational systems.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications, competitive research proposals, or external technical leadership.
• Active Secret or higher U.S. security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape research on NAS safety, including emerging airspace operations and integration of trusted autonomous and AI/ML-enabled systems.
• Translate sponsor and mission-owner needs into research questions, technical approaches, milestones, and measurable outcomes.
• Direct modeling, simulation, data analysis, and experimentation to evaluate system behavior, risks, resilience, and operational safety.
• Advance methods to establish evidence, justification, and confidence in safety-critical AI/ML and autonomous systems.
• Guide development and evaluation of monitoring, prediction, estimation, decision-making, and control approaches for aviation safety.
• Lead interdisciplinary scientists and engineers; mentor junior staff, review technical work, and help set research priorities.
• Move promising research toward application through prototypes, integration demonstrations, field-data collection, and flight testing as appropriate.
• Present findings and recommendations to sponsors and technical audiences, publish research, and contribute to proposals for new investigations.

What This Job Offers

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