Computer Engineer

Are you passionate about providing real, immediate impact to the country's toughest national security problems?

Do you love building and prototyping systems?

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

We are excited to expand our team of Computer Engineers at APL. We are seeking an early-career engineer with a strong foundation in embedded systems and a passion for developing integrated hardware and software solutions.

As a member of our team, you will contribute to the design, implementation, testing, and delivery of embedded and computing systems. Your work will support a range of mission and research areas across the Department of Defense (DOD) and Intelligence Community (IC).

As a Computer Engineer, you will ...

• Contribute to component- and system-level hardware and software design efforts.
• Assist in developing system requirements and translating high-level needs into technical specifications.
• Design, implement, and test embedded systems, including firmware and hardware/software interfaces.
• Develop low-level software for microcontrollers, processors, or embedded platforms.
• Support integration of hardware and software components and help troubleshoot system issues.
• Develop and execute test plans to evaluate system performance and reliability.
• Use lab equipment and debugging tools to validate system behavior.
• Document technical work and present results to internal teams and sponsors.
• Continuously build technical depth and expand your engineering skillset.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another field relevant to the duties as described above.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in embedded systems, firmware, or low-level software development (including internships, co-ops, or research).
• Experience programming in C/C++ or similar low-level languages.
• Familiarity with microcontrollers, processors, or embedded platforms.
• Basic understanding of digital logic and hardware/software interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C, UART).
• Experience with debugging tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, or software debuggers.
• Basic understanding of real-time systems or digital signal processing concepts.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work on-site at APL's main campus as well as at commercial and government test sites.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Top Secret by start date, and can ultimately obtain a 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.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have:

• A Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with FPGA development or HDL (e.g., VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog).
• Experience with embedded Linux or real-time operating systems (RTOS).
• Familiarity with computer architecture or performance optimization.
• Experience integrating sensors, communications interfaces, or custom hardware.
• Exposure to control systems, signal processing, or edge computing concepts.
• Demonstrated leadership in team projects, research, or internships.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contactAccommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.