Software Engineer

Description

Are you interested in working in multi-disciplinary teams to advance the state-of-the-art in autonomous systems, uncrewed air systems, artificial intelligence, software design, embedded systems, virtual reality, and simulation?

Are you interested in applying your skills to conceive, design, prototype and test new capabilities in intelligent autonomous systems that will save US warfighter’s lives and ensure our nation’s preeminence?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, we are looking for someone like you to join our team in the Intelligent Combat Systems Group at APL!

Who are we?

We are the Intelligent Combat Systems Group, and our mission focus is to ensure our Nation maintains the operational advantage on the future battlefield through foundational advances in artificial intelligence, autonomy, manned-unmanned teaming and novel unmanned aircraft (e.g. drones) design and testing. We believe the future of warfare will be defined by intelligent autonomous systems capable of fighting with machine precision at machine speeds. Whether it is developing the intelligence that drives autonomous wingmen behaviors, integrated real-time collaboration tools and data analytic architectures, or novel AI design tools and software, the Intelligent Combat Systems Group is at the forefront. Three of our recent game-changing projects (DARPA Air Combat Evolution, AFRL Golden Horde, and Air Force SkyBorg) are featured in recent news articles, highlighting our impact and innovation.

We are seeking inquisitive and creative team members who like to tackle challenging problems to help us build the next generation of autonomous combat systems and shape the future of warfare. Our team is an entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary team committed to developing technical talent, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, while having fun with what we do!

As a Software Engineer, you will:

• Design, implement, and maintain mission software in Python, C++, or C# for complex real-world systems, software services, SDKs, prototypes, and tools
• Develop automated test frameworks and CI/CD pipelines to validate components and systems at scale
• Create data ingestion and processing pipelines and develop real-time monitoring and visualization tools for test execution and field operations
• Build real-time, map-based web interfaces for streaming sensor data and commanding physical assets
• Develop software services and APIs for integration with various hardware assets (payloads, sensors, and radios), avionics, and software testing of those services into larger vehicle ecosystems
• Design, develop, and optimize simulation frameworks for autonomy and flight dynamics, including physics-based models and performance profiling
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, modeling and simulation, and systems engineering to translate user needs into software requirements and working capabilities
• Test software-hardware integrations in lab, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop, and real-world environments, including occasional field deployments
• Own roadmaps and milestones for well-scoped components, drive design and code reviews, and champion reliability, observability, and security throughout the stack
• Contribute to platform and developer experience efforts, including build systems, dependency management, and containerized development environments

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field
• Have 3+ years of professional software engineering experience shipping and maintaining software ranging from prototype to production-quality
• Are highly proficient in at least one of the following programming languages: C/C++, Python, C#
• Have shipped and supported software using modern practices: Git, code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD
• Have strong computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, concurrency, networking, and operating systems
• Are comfortable developing on Linux, including shell scripting, package management, networking tools, and troubleshooting
• Have hands-on experience with containerization and can build and debug software in complex, multi-repo environments
• Have used and deployed containerized software (Docker, Podman, or Kubernetes) and improved DevOps pipelines and developer tooling
• Can collaborate effectively across disciplines, communicate clearly in writing and in design discussions, and take ownership of outcomes
• Are able to lift up to 25 pounds and work in a variety of weather conditions
• Are able to obtain an Interim 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.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you…

• Have experience integrating software with modeling and simulation (M&S), hardware-in-the-loop / software-in-the-loop (HITL/SITL), and live-virtual-constructive (LVC) software
• Have experience working with AFSIM
• Have hands-on experience with agentic AI workflows and systems (tool use, planning, memory, evaluators, autonomous tasking)
• Drive DevOps and DevSecOps at scale, using Docker or Podman, Kubernetes, observability, and infrastructure as code
• Have experience with systems administration experience managing Linux environments, configuring networking and security controls, and maintaining reliable development environments across a networked infrastructure
• Have developed real-time telemetry, logging, and visualization with tools such as Prometheus and Grafana, or similar observability stacks
• Create robust data systems and streaming analytics (SQL, Postgres, Elastic or OpenSearch, GraphDBs, Kafka) and operator dashboards
• Are familiar with one or more of the following programming languages: Java, Go, JavaScript, TypeScript, Unity
• Ship full stack solutions with modern web front ends (React or Angular with TypeScript) and sound UI/UX judgment
• Have developed applications with data-intensive or map-based frontends using TypeScript, React, WebGL, Cesium, or Mapbox
• Have integrated avionics, PCBAs, sensors, or test equipment and written hardware drivers or instrumentation code
• Have built simulation or hardware-in-the-loop environments and are familiar with rigid body dynamics, quaternions, aerodynamics, or propulsion
• Have optimized performance using profiling tools, parallel programming, or GPUs (CUDA or OpenCL)
• Deliver ML at the edge or under SWaP constraints, including Triton Inference Server, GPU pipelines, and MLOps
• Have experience with motion planning, behavior trees, multi-agent autonomy, or safety-critical software
• Have experience operating or testing UAS or robotics in the field
• Have led software projects, mentor peers, and contributed to establishing team-wide coding standards and review practices in a fast-moving environment
• Hold an active TS/SCI level security 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.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contactAccommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$227,500 Annually