Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Automation Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab$100K — $245K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in automation, robotics, instrumentation, or related software development.
  • Proficient in programming languages like Python, C++, C#, or JavaScript.
  • Experience with software lifecycle: design, implementation, testing, and maintenance.
  • Familiarity with Linux, Windows, and modern development tools.
  • Background in integrating software with hardware and using various communication protocols.
  • Strong collaboration skills with the ability to translate requirements into software solutions.

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, integrate, and maintain software for automation and engineering workflows.
  • Create software for interfacing with electromechanical systems, sensors, and instruments.
  • Develop reusable software frameworks and tools for automation and testing.
  • Build user interfaces and dashboards for data visualization and system operation.
  • Write clean, maintainable code with strong documentation practices.
  • Integrate hardware/software using protocols like TCP/UDP and USB.
  • Support integration and troubleshooting in laboratory and test environments.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for collaboration with a diverse team of engineers and scientists.
  • Engagement in hands-on work in laboratory and field-like environments.
  • Culture that values technical curiosity, rapid iteration, and clear communication.
  • Potential access to advanced AI-enabled development tools for workflow improvement.
Full Job Description
Description

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to help us develop automation, control, data acquisition, analysis, and user-facing software for advanced electromechanical systems, instrumentation, and test environments. As a member of our team, you'll contribute to software that connects hardware, sensors, actuators, devices, databases, user interfaces, and engineering workflows into reliable mission-focused systems. You will be joining a hardworking team of engineers and scientists who design, prototype, integrate, and test practical solutions for complex technical challenges. We are passionate about building software that is reusable, maintainable, and effective in real laboratory, manufacturing, and field-like environments. Our team values technical curiosity, clear communication, rapid iteration, thoughtful software architecture, and the ability to turn ambiguous needs into working tools.

As an Automation Engineer...

  • Younr primary responsibility will be to design, develop, integrate, and maintain software for automated systems, test stands, instrumentation platforms, engineering tools, and hardware-connected workflows.
  • You will develop software that interfaces with electromechanical systems, sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, instruments, databases, and networked devices.
  • You will design reusable software frameworks, libraries, and tools that support automation, test execution, data collection, reporting, and system integration.
  • You will build user interfaces, dashboards, control panels, and engineering applications that help technical teams operate systems, visualize data, and make decisions.
  • You will write clean, maintainable, well-documented code and contribute to software design practices that improve reliability, reuse, testability, and long-term support.
  • You will integrate hardware and software across diverse communication protocols, including TCP/UDP, serial, USB, Ethernet, and other laboratory, industrial, or embedded interfaces.
  • You will support hands-on integration and troubleshooting in laboratory, shop, and test environments, working directly with mechanical, electrical, embedded, and systems engineers.
  • You will help automate repetitive workflows, improve engineering productivity, and explore the use of AI-enabled development tools to accelerate coding, testing, documentation, and analysis.
  • You will collaborate with engineers, scientists, technicians, vendors, sponsors, and project leads to understand requirements, identify risks, communicate blockers, and deliver practical software solutions.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Possess a BS in ComputerSscience, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Have 3+ years of experience developing software for automation, robotics, instrumentation, test systems, data acquisition, engineering tools, web applications, user interfaces, or hardware-integrated systems.
  • Are skilled in software development using languages such as Python, C++, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar programming languages.
  • Have experience designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining software applications, libraries, scripts, services, or automation tools.
  • Have experience working with Linux, Windows, Git, software configuration management, debugging tools, and modern development workflows.
  • Have experience integrating software with hardware, instruments, sensors, embedded devices, databases, APIs, or network-connected systems.
  • Are familiar with communication protocols such as TCP/UDP, serial, USB, Ethernet, REST APIs, or similar device and system interfaces.
  • Are able to work with multidisciplinary teams and translate engineering needs into practical software requirements and working implementations.
  • Are willing and able to work in laboratory, shop, and test environments, including standing or walking for extended periods and moving between buildings or work areas across campus as needed.
  • Are a U.S. citizen.
  • Are able to obtain an Interim level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a 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...
  • Possess an MS in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, robotics, mechatronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Have experience developing automation frameworks, reusable test assets, continuous execution tools, reporting pipelines, or software platforms that help non-software specialists run complex workflows.
  • Have experience with front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, including modern user interface frameworks, data visualization tools, APIs, databases, or web-based engineering applications.
  • Have experience with software architecture, design patterns, code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, containerization, or deployment of maintainable software systems.
  • Have experience developing software for robotic systems, motion-control systems, automated test stands, advanced manufacturing equipment, laboratory instrumentation, or hardware-in-the-loop environments.
  • Have experience with data acquisition, signal processing, data analysis, automated reporting, or visualization of engineering test data.
  • Have experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, firmware-adjacent development, real-time systems, or edge computing.
  • Have experience using AI-enabled development tools such as Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar tools to improve software development, documentation, testing, or workflow automation.
  • Are comfortable breaking down complex projects into organized deliverables, identifying technical risks early, and communicating blockers clearly to project leadership.
  • Have experience mentoring other developers, establishing best practices, improving software quality, or helping multidisciplinary teams adopt better software workflows.
  • Bring creativity, initiative, and sound engineering judgment to ambiguous technical problems.

Minimum Rate

$100,000 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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