Software Engineer - Cyber Capability Development

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Excited by the challenge of discovering, understanding, and exploiting the hardware and software that powers modern surveillance and autonomous systems? Interested in applying AI, automation, and agentic systems to accelerate cyber analysis, vulnerability discovery, and exploit development against complex real-world technologies? Ready to lead technical teams in turning cyber research into operational capabilities that give U.S. operators new ways to understand, disrupt, and defeat emerging threats? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL! The Cyber-Physical Systems Development Group is seeking a software engineer to develop advanced cyber capabilities that address some of the toughest challenges facing the defense and intelligence communities. Our group focuses on technologies that sense, analyze, plan, communicate, and operate in the real world, including surveillance systems and uncrewed platforms. As these technologies become more pervasive and interconnected, they create new sources of intelligence as well as new vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to support national security operations. We tackle these problems through close collaboration, rapid experimentation, and a willingness to explore unconventional approaches—but we stay focused on outcomes. Our goal is to develop cyber capabilities that work in the real world and help U.S. operators understand, access, disrupt, and exploit these systems to gain decisive advantage!

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or another discipline relevant to the duties as described above.
5 or more years of experience developing, analyzing, or exploiting complex software systems.
Experience managing technical projects and/or leading multidisciplinary teams.
Experience in cyber operations techniques such as hardware analysis, software and firmware analysis, network and protocol analysis, vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and/or exploit development.
Familiarity with autonomous or uncrewed platforms, command-and-control systems, sensing and surveillance technologies, internet-of-things products, wired/wireless networking infrastructure, mobile devices, or other similar software-defined systems.
Strong programming skills in one or more modern languages such as C, C++ or Python.
Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new technologies and apply fundamental engineering principles to solve challenging technical problems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Able to obtain a Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI 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

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical discipline.
Advanced experience developing tools for network traffic analysis, protocol discovery, system characterization, or automated analysis of unfamiliar systems.
Advanced experience in vulnerability research, reverse engineering, exploit development, or analysis of embedded software and firmware.
Experience applying AI/ML, including agentic AI, to automate software engineering, cyber analysis, vulnerability discovery, reverse engineering, or other complex technical workflows.
Hold an active Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

Develop software systems that create novel mission capabilities against complex cyber-physical systems and emerging technologies.
Apply AI and agentic AI to automate cyber operations, accelerate analysis, enable intelligent decision-making, and deliver operational effects.
Lead advanced research and development efforts by architecting technical solutions, managing multidisciplinary engineering teams, and transitioning innovative capabilities to government sponsors and operational users.
Shape the future of cyber-physical operations by identifying emerging technologies, engaging with sponsors, and defining new research directions that address evolving intelligence and operational challenges.
Grow technical excellence by mentoring engineers and fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.