2027 PhD Graduate - Systems Engineer/Analyst - Multi-Mission Planning Development

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves applying Ph.D. research to advance national defense by developing next-generation mission planning technologies. The team focuses on developing advanced mission planning capabilities that enable military planners to evaluate alternatives, optimize system performance, and make better decisions across complex air, missile, maritime, and space operations. The work spans Ballistic Missile Defense, Air Warfare, Hypersonic Defense, and emerging multi-domain missions, combining systems engineering, software engineering, modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence, optimization, and operational analysis to deliver mission planning capabilities that directly support national security.

Requirements

Earned or will earn a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Mathematics, Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
Demonstrated excellence conducting independent research and solving complex technical problems.
Experience developing analytical models, simulations, optimization methods, algorithms, or artificial intelligence solutions using MATLAB, Python, or similar technical computing environments.
Experience leading collaborative research or technical projects.
Communicate complex technical concepts effectively through written reports, presentations, and technical discussions.
Enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams while taking initiative to solve challenging engineering problems.
Interested in collaborating with military operators to understand operational challenges and develop practical engineering solutions.
Able to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by your start date and ultimately obtain a Secret security clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Dissertation or research experience directly related to mission planning, systems engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, modeling and simulation, decision science, autonomy, or defense applications.
Experience developing production-quality software using C++, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
Experience with distributed computing, cloud computing, high-performance computing, DevSecOps, containerization, CI/CD pipelines, or modern software development practices.
Experience developing algorithms for optimization, resource allocation, decision support, operations research, or multi-agent systems.
Previous internship, postdoctoral, industry, government laboratory, or research experience applying advanced technical research to real-world engineering challenges.
Experience working with or supporting U.S. Department of Defense programs, operational analysis, or military systems.
Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams or mentoring junior researchers and engineers.
An active Final Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead technical efforts that advance next-generation mission planning and decision-support capabilities.
Apply research to develop innovative algorithms, analytical methods, modeling and simulation frameworks, and artificial intelligence techniques.
Design, evaluate, and improve mission planning architectures that support multiple mission areas and military services.
Conduct engineering and operational analyses that evaluate current capabilities, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform future system development.
Assess the fidelity and effectiveness of modeling and simulation tools used to evaluate operational performance.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to transition research into deployable operational capabilities.
Work directly with military operators and mission experts to understand operational challenges and translate those needs into innovative technical solutions.
Publish technical findings internally, present recommendations to sponsors and stakeholders, and help shape future technical strategy.
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to an environment that values technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.