Senior Reentry Systems Engineer – Performance & Systems Analysis

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

About The Position

The Senior Reentry Systems Engineer provides technical leadership in independent design assessments, performance evaluations, and data analysis for strategic reentry systems associated with ballistic missile and long-range hypersonic strike programs. The role supports systems that are part of the nation’s strategic deterrent and may carry conventional or nuclear payloads. The engineer guides complex investigations and trade studies, works with multidisciplinary teams, and delivers defensible technical assessments to government and industry partners. The position engages with reentry systems throughout their lifecycle, from development and testing through deployment and retirement. It includes technical planning and analysis for system integration and testing, including flight test activities when appropriate, as well as mentoring developing engineers and strengthening the team’s analytical capabilities.

Requirements

B.S. in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or another relevant engineering discipline and at least 10 years of relevant engineering experience.
Substantial technical expertise in one or more reentry-relevant areas, such as aerodynamics, flight dynamics, subsystem/component performance, system integration, or modeling and simulation.
Demonstrated experience independently leading complex engineering analyses, design assessments, or multidisciplinary technical investigations.
Experience interpreting design, production, or test data and developing technically defensible conclusions and recommendations.
Strong computational and analytical skills, including MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or comparable engineering tools.
Demonstrated success working with multidisciplinary teams and communicating technical findings to engineering leadership, customers, or external partners.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to mentor less-experienced engineers.
Comfort working in closed-area facilities and ability to travel for meetings and field tests (approximately 30–35 days per year).
Hold a Secret security clearance and be able to ultimately obtain a Top Secret clearance; eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field and 12+ years of relevant technical experience.
Extensive experience with Navy or Air Force strategic reentry systems, including ICBM or SLBM weapon systems, or hypersonic flight systems.
Experience leading major technical investigations, trade studies, or system-level performance assessments for developmental or fielded aerospace systems.
Expertise in modeling, simulation, and analysis; computational fluid dynamics; aerothermal analysis; vehicle dynamics; flight test engineering; or requirements verification.
Design, integration, or analysis experience with missile and reentry subsystems.
Experience working with Nuclear Security Enterprise laboratories, plants, or partner organizations.
Experience with stockpile or developmental nuclear deterrent systems, including flight test articles such as Joint Test Assemblies.
Experience with bench, laboratory, and flight body instrumentation, including data collection, processing, and analysis.
Demonstrated experience advising government sponsors and mentoring or technically leading engineering teams.
Active Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead independent engineering assessments of reentry system design, performance, and technical risk.
Scope and direct complex trade studies involving reentry system and subsystem design alternatives.
Integrate design, production, ground test, and flight test information to assess system behavior, identify performance concerns, and develop recommendations.
Provide technical guidance to multidisciplinary teams and advise government and industry partners on engineering challenges and design trades.
Guide the development and application of modeling, simulation, and data analysis approaches to support rigorous system assessments.
Lead technical planning and analysis associated with system integration and testing, including flight test activities when appropriate.
Prepare and present technical findings and recommendations to sponsors, technical leadership, and other stakeholders.
Mentor developing engineers, review technical work, and help strengthen the team's analytical capabilities.
Support technical work across the reentry system lifecycle, from development through deployment and retirement.

Benefits

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