Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

UAS Design and Integration Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab • $100K — $245K *
Laurel, MD 20707In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or related field.
  • Hands-on experience designing and integrating custom UAS, robotics, or complex hardware systems.
  • Experience in technical ownership from build to testing, including troubleshooting and design improvements.
  • Knowledge of UAS subsystems like avionics, propulsion, and electrical systems.
  • Proficiency with modern UAS autopilot systems such as PX4 or ArduPilot.
  • Strong communication skills across engineering disciplines for integrated system performance.
  • Enjoyment of hands-on work in labs, machine shops, and field environments.

Responsibilities

  • Own design and integration of UAS prototypes from concept to delivery.
  • Lead hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms and components.
  • Translate mission needs into practical solutions for vehicle, payload, and support.
  • Collaborate with various teams to ensure comprehensive system performance.
  • Design and integrate flight control systems for optimal flight performance.
  • Plan and execute testing, analyze results, and drive iterative improvements.
  • Communicate technical risks and facilitate corrective actions through the project lifecycle.
  • Produce documentation for team use on system build, operation, and improvement.

Benefits

  • Work with multidisciplinary teams on innovative UAS technologies.
  • Hands-on involvement in the complete lifecycle from design to testing.
  • Opportunity to impact defense mission capabilities and systems.
  • Engagement in rapid iteration and troubleshooting of complex systems.
Full Job Description
Description

Are you interested in working on multidisciplinary teams that transform rough ideas into operational uncrewed air systems through design, build, integration, testing, failure analysis, and rapid iteration?

Are you interested in applying hands-on engineering skills to develop low-cost autonomous systems and defense mission capabilities that must perform reliably for real users in realistic operational environments?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

As a UAS Design and Integration Engineer, you will:
  • Own the design and integration of UAS prototypes from concept development and trade studies through build, laboratory checkout, ground and flight testing, failure investigation, redesign, and delivery to test teams and end users.
  • Lead and participate in the hands-on assembly and integration of UAS platforms, including composite fabrication and repair, component installation, custom wiring harness fabrication, soldering, propulsion systems, sensors, and payload integration.
  • Translate mission needs and operational constraints into practical, low-cost vehicle, payload, avionics, propulsion, and ground support solutions while balancing performance, mass, power, cost, schedule, reliability, safety, maintainability, and field repairability.
  • Collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, autonomy, test, and operations teams to ensure design decisions support the performance of the complete integrated system rather than an isolated subsystem.
  • Design and integrate flight control systems, including autopilot configuration, sensor calibration, and GNC tuning to optimize flight performance across conventional and nontraditional UAS configurations.
  • Plan, coordinate, and execute laboratory, ground, and flight testing; analyze results; identify root causes; and drive iterative design improvements based on test data and operational feedback.
  • Communicate technical risks, design issues, integration challenges, and schedule impacts early, and help drive corrective actions through the next build, test, or field event.
  • Produce practical documentation that enables teammates to build, test, operate, maintain, repair, and improve the system, including as-built configurations, test procedures, checklists, and lessons learned.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering field.
  • Have demonstrated professional, military, or substantial hands-on project experience designing, building, integrating, and testing custom uncrewed aerial systems, aircraft, robotics, or other complex hardware systems deployed for users, operators, customers, or mission demonstrations.
  • Have experience owning technical solutions through build, testing, troubleshooting, and iterative improvement-not solely analysis or design handoff.
  • Have experience designing, integrating, operating, and troubleshooting complex mechanical and electrical aerospace, robotic, or prototype systems.
  • Are proficient with modern UAS autopilot systems (e.g., PX4, ArduPilot) and their associated ground control software.
  • Have a strong understanding of UAS subsystems, including avionics, propulsion, GNC, electrical systems, payload integration, and hardware interfaces.
  • Communicate effectively across mechanical, electrical, software, test, and operations disciplines, and make design decisions that support the performance of the integrated system.
  • Enjoy working hands-on in laboratories, machine shops, and field environments, and are comfortable moving between engineering design, prototype fabrication, system integration, testing, and failure investigation.
  • Hold an active Secret security clearance 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 3+ years of relevant professional experience with integrated flight systems, UAS development, or prototype hardware.
  • Have led or made significant technical contributions to multiple prototype build-test-learn cycles and can describe key failures, corrective actions, and resulting improvements.
  • Hold a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and have significant flight experience across multiple UAS platforms.
  • Possess extensive experience integrating avionics, including the selection, installation, checkout, and troubleshooting of sensors, flight computers, communications equipment, and other flight hardware.
  • Demonstrate strong experience tuning flight control systems (GNC), particularly for unconventional or VTOL aircraft.
  • Are proficient with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks) for component design, packaging, integration planning, and rapid design iteration.
  • Have experience designing systems for low-cost manufacturing, rapid repair, field modification, maintainability, or low-volume production.
  • Have supported field testing or flight operations where hardware readiness, logistics, schedule pressure, operators, and evolving prototype hardware had to be managed simultaneously.
  • Have experience developing CONEMPs (Concepts of Employment) and mission system architectures for UAS.
  • Hold an active TS/SCI security 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.

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
Information Technology
Founded
1942
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

More Aerospace & Defense Jobs

Find similar UAS Design and Integration Engineer jobs:

NationwideLaurel, MD