Hardware Systems Engineer
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Hardware Systems Engineer
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Not-for-profit UARC delivering national security research
Are you passionate about digital hardware, embedded systems, and complex tactical systems?
Do you enjoy digging into circuit card designs, system architectures, and lab integration work?
If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
We are seeking an experienced Hardware Systems Engineer to help us design, review, and evolve mission-critical distributed C2 systems for DoD applications. You’ll be joining a hardworking team of engineers who tackle challenging real-time problems in support of the warfighter. We strive to foster an environment of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development, integration, and sustainment of advanced tactical systems.
As a Hardware Systems Engineer in the Distributed C2 Real-time Engineering
Your primary responsibility will be to review and contribute to the design and integration of complex digital hardware and embedded systems, with a strong focus on circuit card assemblies, computing architectures, and system-level performance.
You will support ongoing equipment obsolescence analysis and future equipment architecture planning, particularly around computing hardware, operating systems, and cybersecurity.
You will contribute to hardware/software integration and testing in a development laboratory, assisting with troubleshooting and root cause analysis across hardware and software boundaries.
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
- Digital hardware or circuit card assembly design, review, or test.
- Embedded/real-time systems or computer architectures.
- Systems engineering for complex systems.
You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
- Complex circuit card assembly design taken from concept through manufacturing and production of multiple units.
- Printed circuit board design, manufacturing, and test processes.
- Embedded real-time or near real-time systems and real-time operating systems (e.g., VxWorks, RT Linux, Integrity).
- Computer architectures, including VPX-based or SOSA-aligned systems.
- Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standard.
- VITA 46, VITA 65 (VPX) standards.
- Cybersecurity fundamentals and practice for embedded/tactical systems.
- Anti-tamper systems engineering and technologies.
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods and tools.
- Navy and/or other DoD tactical systems .
- Software engineering, scripting, or code design (e.g., C/C++, Python, shell scripting) to support integration, test automation, or tooling.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.
Not-for-profit UARC delivering national security research
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center that provides solutions to complex national security and scientific challenges through technical expertise, prototyping, research and development, and analysis. It uses engineering, simulations, and studies to design prototypes and deliver analyses that support government and partner organizations. Unlike many commercial firms, APL operates as a non-profit affiliated with Johns Hopkins and focuses on mission-oriented research rather than selling finished products. Its goal is to provide practical, thoroughly tested solutions to public-sector customers by performing research, developing prototypes, and offering expert analysis.
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