Algorithm Development Engineer

Description

Are you interested in developing and analyzing signal processing and machine learning algorithms for maritime and US Navy applications? Do you enjoy working on collaborative project teams with peers and mentors to aid your career development?

If you are graduating with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, statistics, or a related field and want to apply your skills to the maritime and undersea domain, consider joining our team! We strive to cultivate an environment of collaboration and partnership with our highly skilled staff who regularly tackle difficult problems that make a difference in real-world operations.

We apply information processing, machine learning, deep learning, and signal processing to transform raw sensor and network data into meaningful information for our nation’s warfighters. As examples, you may develop algorithms to hunt for submarines, analyze IP network traffic data to characterize network behavior and identify anomalous activity, or develop deep learning algorithms to classify objects in sidescan sonar images. 

As an Algorithm Development Engineer, you will…

• Develop, implement, test, and evaluate signal processing, data analysis, and machine learning algorithms for challenging maritime and national security applications.
• Work with real-world sensor, imagery, or network data to uncover patterns, extract meaningful features, and develop algorithms that turn data into actionable information.
• Develop software tools and analysis workflows, primarily using Python, MATLAB, or C/C++, to process data, conduct experiments, and evaluate algorithm performance.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of engineers, scientists, and operational experts to tackle technical issues and transition innovative capabilities into operational use.
• Detail your technical approach, software, experiments, and algorithm performance through written reports, presentations, and technical discussions with colleagues and sponsors.

Qualifications

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

• Have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics/statistics, or physics.
• Have demonstrated programming experience in Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or a similar language.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively in small project teams.
• Have a foundation in relevant mathematical and computational concepts, such as linear algebra, probability, statistics, numerical methods, or digital signal processing.
• Have experience applying programming and analytical skills to solve technical problems, including developing algorithms, analyzing data, or evaluating computational outputs.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a Secret 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 implementing and evaluating signal processing or machine learning algorithms using real-world or simulated data.
• Have knowledge of IP networking concepts and protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, routing) and experience analyzing network traffic, packet captures (PCAP), or network performance. Have used tools including Wireshark, Arkime, or Elasticsearch.
• Are familiar with signal processing concepts such as sampling theory, Fourier transforms, digital filtering, spectral analysis, or time-frequency representations.
• Have experience with statistical analysis, feature extraction, classification, regression, or methods such as random forests, support vector machines, or neural networks.
• Have used deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow, particularly for image, audio, time-series, or other sensor data.
• Have applied software development practices and tools such as Git, unit testing, debugging, or development in Linux environments.
• Have led project teams to successfully accomplish a technical objective.

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 at https://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 contact [email protected].

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

$85,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$165,000 Annually