Undersea Acoustic Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

2d

About The Position

The Undersea Acoustic Systems Engineer leads modeling and simulation, design, testing, and evaluation of acoustic transducers and sensor systems for undersea applications. Working with a multidisciplinary team, the engineer advances U.S. Navy capabilities by maturing concepts from initial analysis through prototyping and performance evaluation. The role applies expertise in acoustics, mechanics, materials, electronics, and signal processing to develop source and receiver technologies and assess performance from component through system level.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Acoustics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, Ocean Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of acoustics, vibration, wave propagation, and electromechanical or piezoelectric systems.
• Experience designing, modeling, and/or testing acoustic transducers, sensors, or related hardware.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or a comparable scientific programming language.
• Ability to lead technical efforts and work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret security clearance by the start date and ultimately obtain a Top Secret clearance; eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience with underwater acoustic projectors, hydrophones, transducer arrays, or acoustic communications hardware.
• Experience with multiphysics or finite-element modeling tools such as COMSOL.
• Experience designing, fabricating, integrating, or environmentally testing prototype hardware.
• Experience evaluating transducers as part of an end-to-end sonar, communications, or sensing system.
• Experience leading technical teams, mentoring staff, or applying collaborative software-development best practices.
• Active Secret or higher-level security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the analysis and implementation of acoustic sources, receivers, transducers, and/or arrays.
• Develop physics-based models of electrical, mechanical, and acoustic transducer systems.
• Conduct design trades involving materials, geometry, bandwidth, sensitivity, source level, and directivity.
• Plan and conduct laboratory, tank, and field testing to characterize system performance.
• Compare measurements with model predictions and refine models accordingly.

Benefits

• Robust education assistance program.
• Retirement contributions and retirement plans.
• Paid time off.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Training and development.
• Potential sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time