Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

2026 PhD Graduate - Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab$105K — $245K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work independently and in teams.
  • Solid understanding of mathematical foundations of machine learning, including probability and statistics.
  • Experience with AI/ML libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) for domain-specific problems.
  • Experience in selecting modeling techniques for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning.
  • Ability to obtain Interim Secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

  • Support development of data collection, processing, and analysis efforts for Navy and Air Force systems.
  • Contribute to R&D lifecycle for emerging data challenges, including model selection and experimentation.
  • Select modeling approaches using statistical and machine learning techniques for real-world data.
  • Leverage internal funding to steer future research directions.
  • Communicate findings and technical knowledge effectively through papers and presentations.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work with multi-disciplinary teams in defense and national security.
  • Access to internal funding opportunities for research initiatives.
  • Potential for mentorship and leadership experience within technical teams.
Full Job Description
Description

If you are graduating with a PhD in Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related field, we would love to have you join our team! We are seeking a new PhD graduate with expertise in machine learning to support multi-disciplinary teams performing a variety of quantitative tasks for defense and national security applications. You will be joining a varied team of engineers, software developers, statisticians, data scientists, and analysts who are committed to advancing the state-of-the-art in performance evaluation of the nation's strategic weapons systems throughout their lifecycle.

As a member of our team, you will...
  • Work with multi-disciplinary teams to support development of data collection, processing, and analysis efforts to assess the performance of a number of systems supporting the Navy and Air Force.
  • Contribute to the full research and development lifecycle for emerging problems. This includes model and algorithm selection, experimentation, analysis, and presentation of results.
  • Apply appropriate statistical and machine learning expertise towards selecting modeling approaches for complex, real-world data.
  • Use internal funding opportunities to shape the direction of future research.
  • Communicate technical knowledge by articulating ideas clearly through papers and presentations to technical staff, management, and government decision makers.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have a PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.
  • Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and on a team.
  • Have a solid understanding of the mathematical foundations of ML, including probability, statistics, and linear algebra.
  • Have experience using modern AI/ML libraries or frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar), with including adapting or extending methods for domain-specific problems.
  • Demonstrate experience selecting appropriate modeling techniques for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems in research or real-world settings, with an understanding of when and why they are appropriate.
  • Are able to obtain Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Top 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 will go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Have experience in project management or leading technical teams.
  • Have experience in writing technical proposals, particularly for government research projects.
  • Have experience mentoring students, teaching, or communicating complex technical concepts in academic, research, or professional settings.
  • Have experience applying machine learning methods to scientific, engineering, or data analysis problems, including areas such as computer vision, NLP, time-series analysis, or scientific machine learning.
  • Have contributed to peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, or presentations in statistics, machine learning, applied mathematics, or related fields.
  • Have experience understanding, developing, or adapting modern AI models and workflows, including large language models, for quantitative analysis and decision support.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 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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