Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Cyber Mission Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab$100K — $245K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in relevant technical field (e.g., Computer Science, Cybersecurity).
  • At least eight years of experience in cyber capability development or systems engineering.
  • Demonstrated leadership in technical integration across project lifecycle.
  • Technical depth in software, hardware, networking, or cybersecurity domains.
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams and communicating complex technical concepts.
  • Ability to obtain a Top-Secret-level security clearance and meet citizenship requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Develop an understanding of sponsor missions and translate operational needs into actionable requirements.
  • Lead the development and integration of cyber capabilities in mission systems.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to define technical scope and manage risks.
  • Build relationships with sponsors and partners, communicating project status and recommendations.
  • Mentor engineers in their technical and professional growth.

Benefits

  • Fostering collaboration and professional growth within a healthy work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Description

We are seeking an experienced Cyber Mission Engineer to turn complex operational needs into integrated cyber capabilities that advance U.S. missions. You will combine mission understanding, systems engineering rigor, and technical breadth to translate objectives into requirements and guide capabilities from concept through development, integration, test, and operational transition. Working with developers, operators, engineers, researchers, industry, and academia, you will ensure solutions are technically feasible, operationally viable, and aligned with the larger mission system. We foster collaboration, professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance.

As a Cyber Mission Engineer, you will...
  • Develop a deep understanding of sponsor missions and concepts of operation, and translate operational objectives, constraints, threats, and risks into requirements, architectures, interfaces, test criteria, and executable plans.
  • Lead the development, integration, test, evaluation, and transition of cyber capabilities within larger mission systems.
  • Lead and/or work within multidisciplinary teams and partner organizations, define technical scope and priorities, manage dependencies and risks, and mentor engineers in their technical and professional development.
  • Build trusted sponsor and partner relationships, and develop and present technical, strategic, and decisional briefings that clearly communicate status, risks, alternatives, and recommendations.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Possess a Bachelors or equivalent professional experience in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Cybersecurity, Physics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or another relevant technical field.
  • Have at least eight years of relevant experience in cyber capability development, mission or systems engineering, cyber operations, technical integration, test and evaluation, applied research, or a related national-security field.
  • Have led or played a central technical-integration role on an effort that progressed through multiple lifecycle stages, and have translated ambiguous mission needs or concepts of operation into requirements, architectures, interfaces, test criteria, and executable plans.
  • Bring demonstrated technical depth in domains such as software, hardware, networking, RF, embedded systems, cybersecurity, modeling, development, reverse engineering, or test.
  • Have experience leading cross-functional technical teams, coordinating partner organizations or external performers, mentoring staff, managing technical dependencies and risks, and communicating complex concepts to operators, engineers, program leaders, and senior decision-makers.
  • Are able to obtain an Interim Top-Secret-level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI+polygraph. 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...
  • Possess an MS or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Physics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related technical field; contributions to mission-relevant papers, patents, standards, or conference presentations are also valued.
  • Have experience working directly or in an embedded capacity with an operational sponsor, mission owner, system owner, or command and rapidly developing an understanding of its mission, relationships, processes, and decision environment.
  • Have led a capability from an ambiguous operational need through integration and test to operational demonstration, transition, or fielding, including development of mission threads, concepts of operation, architectures, roadmaps, requirements, verification plans, or technical-review packages.
  • Have experience integrating cyber or other non-kinetic capabilities with mission-critical platforms, command-and-control systems, operator workflows, RF systems, embedded systems, or other multi-domain mission elements.
  • Have planned, coordinated, or integrated cyber or other special technical operations at the tactical or operational level; served as a cyber operator, mission planner, technical director, system integrator, or operational test lead; or completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I.
  • Have led portfolio areas or multi-organization teams and presented technical status, risks, alternatives, and recommendations to senior executive or flag/general officer-level audiences.
  • Have experience working across security regimes and at different cadences and technical environments, from focused foundational research efforts to supporting high operational tempo activities.
  • Hold an active TS/SCI security clearance with polygraph.

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

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar Cyber Mission Engineer jobs: