Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

2026 Graduate - Hypersonics Engineer - Vehicle Design and Technologies

Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills
  • Ability to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance
  • U.S. citizenship required for security clearance
  • Intern experience in aerospace design or evaluation (preferred)
  • Demonstrated leadership skills (preferred)

Responsibilities

  • Model aerodynamic characteristics of various air-vehicle configurations
  • Conduct multi-fidelity analysis using CFD and thermal software
  • Plan and execute ground tests in wind tunnel and arcjet facilities
  • Perform post-test analysis to validate numerical predictions
  • Design future conceptual vehicles with multidisciplinary system analysis
  • Optimize hypersonic propulsion designs including system integration

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge hypersonic vehicle technology
  • Multidisciplinary teamwork with experts across various engineering fields
  • Involvement in national defense projects and innovation
  • Access to advanced software tools and technologies
  • Potential for career advancement and leadership roles
Full Job Description
Description

Does hypersonic vehicle design sound like a fun challenge? How about missiles, UAVs, and roto-craft?

If you are graduating with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering and want to innovate and be part of the Vehicle Design and Technologies Group - we design the future!

Join our multidisciplinary team of experts across vehicle design disciplines including propulsion, aerodynamics, thermal, advanced materials, mechanical and structural engineering. We investigate basic science and transition it into state of the art vehicle technology enabling innovation and revolutionary new designs. Your research will be applied to conceptualize, design, and prototype advanced vehicles and weapons to meet critical national and warfighter needs.

Depending on your areas of interest, some of the ways you can contribute are:
  • Predict and model the aerodynamic characteristics of various air-vehicle configurations including hypersonic re-entry vehicles, supersonic and hypersonic air-breathing concepts, and subsonic fixed-wing or rotorcraft unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
  • Perform multi-fidelity analysis using commercial and in-house CFD and thermal software in support of vehicle aerothermal design and analysis across various flow regimes from subsonic to hypersonic.
  • Plan and execute ground tests and design models for various wind tunnel and arcjet facilities. Conduct post-test analysis to validate numerical predictions then create and improve high fidelity models.
  • Design future conceptual vehicles, performing detailed multidisciplinary system analysis including integration with launch platforms.
  • Optimize hypersonic propulsion designs including inlet design, flowpath analysis, system integration, test, and evaluation.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering
  • Have strong communications and collaboration skills
  • Are able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain 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 intern experience in the aerospace industry designing or evaluating vehicle performance
  • Have demonstrated leadership skills


Minimum Rate

$85,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$165,000 Annually

About Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a research and development organization that provides solutions to national security and scientific challenges. The laboratory was founded in 1942 and is located in Laurel, Maryland. APL is a division of the Johns Hopkins University and is a not-for-profit organization. The laboratory has expertise in a variety of areas, including space exploration, national security, and healthcare.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1942

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