Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

2027 Graduate - Cybersecurity Engineer - Constrained Cyber Solutions

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

Qualifications

  • Pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in relevant STEM fields.
  • Experience with Python, Rust, VHDL, Verilog, C, C++, Java, or MATLAB.
  • Background in advanced cryptography, embedded solutions, or offensive security.
  • Knowledge in cyber mission engineering and operationalization through relevant coursework or projects.
  • Ability to obtain a Top Secret level security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Contribute to research and development of advanced cryptographic technologies.
  • Develop low-level software and firmware for constrained platforms.
  • Analyze cyber vulnerabilities and assess their impact.
  • Work with domain experts to integrate and validate cyber capabilities.
  • Design testbeds and workflows for rapid integration and evaluation of cyber solutions.

Benefits

  • Access to internal funding opportunities for future research.
  • Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and technical briefings.
  • Hands-on experience addressing national security challenges.
Full Job Description
Description

If you are graduating with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Space Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field, and want to contribute to cyber solutions that defend constrained U.S. military and space systems, we'd love to have you join the our team!

We are seeking computer scientists, engineers, and mathematicians to help us build novel solutions for multiple U.S. Government sponsors. Together, we solve complex technical challenges at the intersection of software, hardware, and cyber operations. Our team works collaboratively with industry, academia, and government to study, compose, develop, implement, and test cyber capabilities applied to air, space, afloat, ground, and undersea platforms and systems. We value creativity, collaboration, and the open exchange of ideas, and we believe in learning, experimenting, and professional growth.

As a member of our team, the primary responsibilities will include contributing to areas of research and development such as:
    • Advanced Cryptography: Research, develop, and transition novel cryptographic technologies into mission-relevant capabilities.
    • Embedded Solutions: Develop low-level software, firmware, FPGA logic, and low-SWaP cyber capabilities for constrained platforms and protocols, including prototype development and performance optimization.
    • Offensive Security: Analyze potential cyber vulnerabilities in hardware and software systems and assess their mission impact.
    • Cyber Mission Engineering and Operationalization: Work with mission and domain experts to help ensure developed capabilities are integrated, validated, and operationalized within larger operational systems.
    • Constrained Cyber Integration, Test, Evaluation, and Deployment: Design network and physical testbeds, virtualized ranges, and evaluation workflows to rapidly integrate, test, evaluate, validate, and support deployment of cyber capabilities in constrained mission environments.
  • You will research capability gaps in current platforms and build solutions as part of a team with a variety of STEM-related backgrounds (systems engineering, software, hardware, physics, mathematics).
  • You will work alongside highly-skilled cyber and engineering professionals to solve challenges vital to national security.
  • You'll gain experience giving technical briefings and presentations.
  • You will have access to internal funding opportunities to craft the direction of future research.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Are pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Space Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.
  • Have experience in one or more of the following: Python, Rust, VHDL, Verilog, C, C++, Java, MATLAB, or another popular programming language.
  • Have an educational background, research, project experience, or demonstrated curiosity in at least one of the following categories:
    • Advanced Cryptography: Algorithm development, applied mathematics, cryptography, or current cryptographic approaches. Experience implementing cryptographic algorithms using languages such as C, C++, or Python is a plus.
    • Embedded Solutions: Low-level programming in C, C++, or Rust; firmware development; FPGA development using VHDL or Verilog; embedded systems; analog or digital circuit design; constrained protocols; or low-SWaP system design and optimization.
    • Offensive Security: Cyber vulnerability assessment, red teaming, penetration testing, exploit development, or reverse engineering of hardware or software systems.
    • Cyber Mission Engineering and Operationalization: Systems engineering, requirements decomposition, mission analysis, integration, verification and validation, or operationally focused technical problem solving.
    • Constrained Cyber Integration, Test, Evaluation, and Deployment: Building network testbeds, virtualized ranges, automated test workflows, or evaluation environments to assess cyber capabilities.
    • Are able to obtain a Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI-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 an active security clearance.
  • Have previous relevant experience in internships, professional roles, or personal work in the categories listed under the minimum requirements.
  • Have coursework, internship, research, project, or demonstrated experience with computer networking concepts such as TCP/IP, sockets, packet capture, and protocol analysis, network configuration, routing, switching, or virtual networks.
  • Have skills working with a wide variety of technologies, such as:
    • Linux familiarity.
    • Experience with modern cybersecurity tools, including network and protocol analysis, firmware analysis, and embedded system security.
    • Software application development experience.
    • Hardware programming experience.
    • Skills in offensive or defensive cyber, including experience from university cybersecurity competitions such as Capture the Flag, hackathons, cyber clubs, or similar activities.

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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