Sensor Systems Engineer - Radar Signal Processing and Sensor Systems

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Multi-Domain Sensing Architectures and Data Fusion Group develops advanced radar, signal processing, sensor system, classification, discrimination, and mission analysis capabilities that enable next-generation defense solutions. Our team combines expertise in radar and sensor systems, waveform and phenomenology analysis, modeling and simulation, systems analysis, algorithm development, and selective data fusion to solve complex technical challenges for our nation. We work closely with government sponsors and multidisciplinary teams to transition innovative concepts into operational capabilities, while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages technical excellence, hands-on learning, technical ownership, and leadership growth. The successful candidate will contribute across the lifecycle of advanced sensing capabilities, including radar and signal processing algorithm development, modeling and simulation, system analysis, architecture evaluation, verification and validation, test data analysis, and transition of innovative technologies into operational applications. This role is designed for engineers with 1-2 years of relevant experience who are ready to deepen their technical skills, take ownership of focused technical tasks, and grow into technical leadership responsibilities.

Requirements

Possess a BS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
Have 1+ years of relevant professional experience developing, evaluating, or assessing signal processing algorithms, radar systems, sensor systems, classification or discrimination algorithms, sensing architectures, modeling and simulation capabilities, or related technical analyses.
Have experience in one or more of the following areas: radar signal processing, detection and estimation theory, waveform analysis, sensor phenomenology, sensor modeling, target characterization or discrimination, electronic sensing systems, resource management, system performance assessment, verification and validation, or radar/EO/IR system analysis.
Have experience using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar scientific programming languages for modeling, simulation, algorithm development, test data analysis, or performance assessment.
Have demonstrated technical ownership or emerging leadership through a project, internship, lab effort, capstone, sponsored project, or multidisciplinary technical task.
Can communicate technical results clearly through briefings, technical discussions, written analysis, and data-driven recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
Are willing and able to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed.
Hold an active Secret security clearance and ultimately a TS/SCI clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Possess an MS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
Have applied experience in radar systems, missile defense sensing, air and missile defense, integrated air and missile defense, multi-domain sensing, or related national security applications.
Have experience taking an algorithm, model, or analysis capability from initial concept through prototype implementation, performance evaluation, and recommended next steps.
Have experience with measured data, field test data, high-fidelity simulation data, or hardware/software-in-the-loop evaluation for radar or sensor systems.
Have experience coordinating a small technical effort, mentoring peers or interns, leading a student or early-career project team, or serving as a technical point of contact for a project stakeholder.
Have familiarity with digital engineering, system-of-systems analysis, sensor resource management, architecture evaluation, or advanced modeling and simulation.
Have familiarity with tracking, state estimation, multi-sensor data fusion, or data association concepts as supporting elements of end-to-end sensing performance.
Have experience collaborating with government sponsors, defense laboratories, industry partners, or multidisciplinary technical teams.
Hold an active Top Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

Develop, evaluate, and mature signal processing, radar system, sensing, classification, and discrimination algorithms within complex system and system-of-systems architectures.
Take ownership of focused technical tasks, analyses, prototypes, or modeling efforts and drive them from problem definition through results and recommendations.
Support concept development, requirements analysis, architecture trades, and performance assessment for advanced radar and sensor systems.
Evaluate end-to-end radar and sensor system performance, including detection, estimation, discrimination, classification, and operational effectiveness measures.
Perform verification, validation, test data analysis, and performance assessment for prototype and operational sensing capabilities.
Analyze radar and sensor systems and architectures, including sensor phenomenology, waveform considerations, sensor integration, resource management, and system-of-systems interactions.
Design and execute modeling, simulation, analysis, verification, and validation studies to assess system performance and develop quantitative recommendations for future capabilities.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, government sponsors, and external organizations to identify, analyze, and solve challenging technical problems spanning signal processing, radar systems, sensor architectures, algorithms, and operational concepts.
Demonstrate technical leadership by organizing your technical approach, coordinating with teammates, communicating risks and findings, and delivering clear, data-driven recommendations.
Develop algorithmic prototypes, system analyses, and technical solutions that advance applied sensing, radar, discrimination, and classification capabilities.
Apply tracking and data fusion concepts where they support broader sensor system performance objectives, without making them the primary focus of the role.