Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Sensor Systems Engineer - Radar Signal Processing and Sensor Systems

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

Qualifications

  • BS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related field.
  • 1+ years of experience in signal processing algorithms or radar/sensor system analysis.
  • Familiarity in radar signal processing, detection and estimation theory, or sensor phenomenology.
  • Proficient in MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar for modeling and analysis.
  • Demonstrated ownership or leadership in technical projects or internships.
  • Effective communicator of technical results to varied audiences.
  • Must possess an active Secret clearance and be eligible for TS/SCI.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and mature signal processing and radar algorithms within complex systems.
  • Own technical tasks from problem definition through analysis and recommendations.
  • Support requirements analysis and performance assessment for radar systems.
  • Evaluate radar system performance in terms of classification and operational effectiveness.
  • Conduct verification and validation on sensing capabilities and analyze test data.
  • Analyze radar architectures, including sensor integration and system dynamics.
  • Collaborate with teams and organizations to solve complex radar and sensor challenges.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment with interdisciplinary teams.
  • Opportunity for technical leadership development.
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and advanced sensing capabilities.
  • Professional growth through project ownership.
  • Potential for travel to participate in relevant field activities.
Full Job Description
Description

The successful candidate will contribute across the lifecycle of advanced sensing capabilities, including radar and signal processing algorithm development, modeling and simulation, system analysis, architecture evaluation, verification and validation, test data analysis, and transition of innovative technologies into operational applications. This role is designed for engineers with 1-2 years of relevant experience who are ready to deepen their technical skills, take ownership of focused technical tasks, and grow into technical leadership responsibilities.

As a Sensor Systems Engineer - Radar Signal Processing and Sensor Systems
  • Develop, evaluate, and mature signal processing, radar system, sensing, classification, and discrimination algorithms within complex system and system-of-systems architectures.
  • Take ownership of focused technical tasks, analyses, prototypes, or modeling efforts and drive them from problem definition through results and recommendations.
  • Support concept development, requirements analysis, architecture trades, and performance assessment for advanced radar and sensor systems.
  • Evaluate end-to-end radar and sensor system performance, including detection, estimation, discrimination, classification, and operational effectiveness measures.
  • Perform verification, validation, test data analysis, and performance assessment for prototype and operational sensing capabilities.
  • Analyze radar and sensor systems and architectures, including sensor phenomenology, waveform considerations, sensor integration, resource management, and system-of-systems interactions.
  • Design and execute modeling, simulation, analysis, verification, and validation studies to assess system performance and develop quantitative recommendations for future capabilities.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, government sponsors, and external organizations to identify, analyze, and solve challenging technical problems spanning signal processing, radar systems, sensor architectures, algorithms, and operational concepts.
  • Demonstrate technical leadership by organizing your technical approach, coordinating with teammates, communicating risks and findings, and delivering clear, data-driven recommendations.
  • Develop algorithmic prototypes, system analyses, and technical solutions that advance applied sensing, radar, discrimination, and classification capabilities.
  • Apply tracking and data fusion concepts where they support broader sensor system performance objectives, without making them the primary focus of the role.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Possess a BS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
  • Have 1+ years of relevant professional experience developing, evaluating, or assessing signal processing algorithms, radar systems, sensor systems, classification or discrimination algorithms, sensing architectures, modeling and simulation capabilities, or related technical analyses.
  • Have experience in one or more of the following areas: radar signal processing, detection and estimation theory, waveform analysis, sensor phenomenology, sensor modeling, target characterization or discrimination, electronic sensing systems, resource management, system performance assessment, verification and validation, or radar/EO/IR system analysis.
  • Have experience using MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar scientific programming languages for modeling, simulation, algorithm development, test data analysis, or performance assessment.
  • Have demonstrated technical ownership or emerging leadership through a project, internship, lab effort, capstone, sponsored project, or multidisciplinary technical task.
  • Can communicate technical results clearly through briefings, technical discussions, written analysis, and data-driven recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Are willing and able to travel up to 10% of the time, as needed.
  • Hold an active Secret security clearance and ultimately a TS/SCI clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security 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 qualifications if you...
  • Possess an MS in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, computer science, systems engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
  • Have applied experience in radar systems, missile defense sensing, air and missile defense, integrated air and missile defense, multi-domain sensing, or related national security applications.
  • Have experience taking an algorithm, model, or analysis capability from initial concept through prototype implementation, performance evaluation, and recommended next steps.
  • Have experience with measured data, field test data, high-fidelity simulation data, or hardware/software-in-the-loop evaluation for radar or sensor systems.
  • Have experience coordinating a small technical effort, mentoring peers or interns, leading a student or early-career project team, or serving as a technical point of contact for a project stakeholder.
  • Have familiarity with digital engineering, system-of-systems analysis, sensor resource management, architecture evaluation, or advanced modeling and simulation.
  • Have familiarity with tracking, state estimation, multi-sensor data fusion, or data association concepts as supporting elements of end-to-end sensing performance.
  • Have experience collaborating with government sponsors, defense laboratories, industry partners, or multidisciplinary technical teams.
  • Hold an active Top Secret security clearance and are able to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

#LI-KW1

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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