Senior Navigation Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

Are you searching for exciting work in aerospace and missile systems engineering? Do you have knowledge and experience in global positioning system (GPS) integration, inertial navigation and optimal estimation, and a desire to apply those skills to analyze, test, and improve weapon systems for our military? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL. We are seeking a dynamic, creative engineer who will help us assess performance of weapon systems under development and influence future missile systems programs. You will join a team of expert analysts in an environment that values collaboration and innovation. Innovations in areas like Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML) and alternative navigation solutions in GPS-denied environments offer exciting opportunities to shape the future of our nation’s defensive capabilities. Our team supports a wide array of platforms, including hypersonics, cruise missiles, submarines, and autonomous flight vehicles. As a senior engineer, you will spearhead development of navigation solutions for these critical systems, leveraging your technical expertise and a passion for continuous learning. As a Senior Navigation Engineer... • You will be a Subject Matter Expert on navigation systems that must operate in extremely demanding conditions in support of the most crucial missions of the US military. • Design and analyze navigation systems including strapdown algorithms and aiding filters fusing measurements from multiple sensors. • You will work with inertial measurement unit (IMU), GPS, terrain mapping sensors, and with multiple sponsors to identify practical GPS alternatives in both hardware and software environments. • Mentor junior staff and help ensure that our team maintains deep knowledge across multiple areas of GPS aiding and inertial navigation. • Use simulations to predict system behavior and risks, leveraging both Monte Carlo and covariance-based methods to understand trends and perform high-level system trades. • Analyze and assess contractor designs to assist program offices throughout the DoD acquisition cycle and interface with contractor community to help them design and build operational weapon systems. • Develop and maintain relationships with DoD sponsors and other relevant stakeholders, working to conceive, develop, plan and execute new Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) initiatives.

Requirements

Have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics or another related technical field.
Have 5+ years proven experience with navigation systems.
Have experience design and analysis of inertial navigation systems, sensor fusion and state estimation via Kalman or other optimal filtering algorithms, or navigation simulation and model development.
Have conducted analysis and development using MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or C++.
Have strong communication and interpersonal skills, and are skilled at developing relationships across multi-disciplinary teams.
Must be willing to travel up to approximately 25%.
Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Have a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or other related technical discipline.
Have successfully led navigation system design or analysis activities.
Have experience and interest in related fields such as guidance and control systems or 6 degree-of-freedom modeling and simulation.
Have hands-on experience with navigation hardware including IMUs, GPS receivers, and GPS emulators.

Responsibilities

Be a Subject Matter Expert on navigation systems that must operate in extremely demanding conditions in support of the most crucial missions of the US military.
Design and analyze navigation systems including strapdown algorithms and aiding filters fusing measurements from multiple sensors.
Work with inertial measurement unit (IMU), GPS, terrain mapping sensors, and with multiple sponsors to identify practical GPS alternatives in both hardware and software environments.
Mentor junior staff and help ensure that our team maintains deep knowledge across multiple areas of GPS aiding and inertial navigation.
Use simulations to predict system behavior and risks, leveraging both Monte Carlo and covariance-based methods to understand trends and perform high-level system trades.
Analyze and assess contractor designs to assist program offices throughout the DoD acquisition cycle and interface with contractor community to help them design and build operational weapon systems.
Develop and maintain relationships with DoD sponsors and other relevant stakeholders, working to conceive, develop, plan and execute new Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) initiatives.