2027 - PhD Graduate - Radar Signal Processing and Sensor Systems Engineer

Are you completing or recently finished a PhD and eager to apply your technical depth to real-world national security challenges? Do you want to help develop radar signal processing, sensing, and sensor system capabilities that move quickly from concept to mission impact? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

The Multi-Domain Sensing Architectures and Data Fusion Group develops advanced radar, signal processing, sensor system, classification, discrimination, and mission analysis capabilities that enable next-generation defense solutions. Our team combines expertise in radar and sensor systems, waveform and phenomenology analysis, modeling and simulation, systems analysis, algorithm development, and selective data fusion to solve complex technical challenges for our nation. We work closely with government sponsors and multidisciplinary teams to transition innovative concepts into operational capabilities, while fostering a collaborative environment that encourages technical excellence, technical leadership, innovation, and professional growth.

The successful candidate will contribute across the lifecycle of advanced sensing capabilities, including radar and signal processing algorithm development, modeling and simulation, system analysis, architecture evaluation, verification and validation, test data analysis, and transition of innovative technologies into operational applications. This role is designed for new PhD graduates who want to use deep technical training in an applied environment while growing into technical leadership responsibilities early in their careers.

As a Radar Signal Processing and Sensor Systems Engineer, you will:

• Develop, evaluate, and mature advanced signal processing, radar system, sensing, classification, and discrimination algorithms within complex system and system-of-systems architectures.
• Take ownership of technical work packages, analyses, prototypes, or modeling tasks and drive them from problem definition through results, recommendations, and transition planning.
• Support concept development, requirements analysis, architecture trades, and performance assessment for advanced radar and sensor systems.
• Evaluate end-to-end radar and sensor system performance, including detection, estimation, discrimination, classification, and operational effectiveness measures.
• Perform verification, validation, test data analysis, and performance assessment for prototype and operational sensing capabilities.
• Analyze complex sensor systems and architectures, including radar phenomenology, waveform considerations, sensor integration, resource management, and system-of-systems interactions.
• Design and execute modeling, simulation, analysis, verification, and validation studies to assess system performance and develop quantitative recommendations for future capabilities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, government sponsors, and external organizations to identify, analyze, and solve challenging technical problems spanning signal processing, radar systems, sensor architectures, algorithms, and operational concepts.
• Provide technical leadership by coordinating small technical efforts, shaping analysis approaches, integrating inputs from teammates, and communicating clear, data-driven recommendations.
• Develop innovative algorithmic prototypes, system analyses, and technical solutions that advance state-of-the-art applied sensing, radar, discrimination, and classification capabilities.
• Apply tracking and data fusion methods where they support broader sensor system performance objectives, without making them the primary focus of the role.

You meet our minimum qualifications if you...

• Possess a PhD, in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Have graduate-level experience developing, evaluating, or assessing signal processing algorithms, radar systems, sensor systems, classification or discrimination algorithms, sensing architectures, or related modeling and simulation capabilities.
• Have demonstrated technical depth in one or more of the following areas: radar signal processing, detection and estimation theory, waveform analysis, sensor phenomenology, sensor modeling, target characterization or discrimination, electronic sensing systems, resource management, system performance assessment, verification and validation, or radar/EO/IR system analysis.
• Have experience using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar scientific programming languages for modeling, simulation, algorithm development, test data analysis, or performance assessment.
• Have shown technical leadership through ownership of a graduate project, capstone, internship, lab effort, sponsored project, or multidisciplinary technical task.
• Can communicate technical results clearly through briefings, technical discussions, written analysis, and data-driven recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Are willing and able to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed.
• Are able to obtain a Secret security clearance and ultimately a TS/SCI clearance. U.S. citizenship is required.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum qualifications if you...

• Have applied PhD, internship, fellowship, or project experience in radar systems, missile defense sensing, air and missile defense, integrated air and missile defense, multi-domain sensing, or related national security applications.
• Have led a technical project or small team, coordinated technical contributions across collaborators, mentored students or interns, or served as a technical point of contact for a sponsor, advisor, or external partner.
• Have experience taking an algorithm, model, or analysis capability from initial concept through prototype implementation, performance evaluation, and recommended next steps.
• Have experience with measured data, field test data, high-fidelity simulation data, or hardware/software-in-the-loop evaluation for radar or sensor systems.
• Have familiarity with digital engineering, system-of-systems analysis, sensor resource management, architecture evaluation, or advanced modeling and simulation.
• Have familiarity with tracking, state estimation, multi-sensor data fusion, or data association concepts as supporting elements of end-to-end sensing performance.
• Have experience collaborating with government sponsors, defense laboratories, industry partners, or multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Hold an active Secret or Top Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

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 athttps://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 contactAccessibility@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.