DescriptionAre you a seasoned software engineer who enjoys building high-performance systems, working close to the hardware, and solving sophisticated problems with modern tools?
Do you want to apply your experience to challenging problems within national defense?
If so, we 're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!The Weapon Systems Engineering group at APL is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to prototype, integrate, test, and deploy next-generation software for advanced weapon and missile defense systems, simulations, and test environments. You'll work at the intersection of embedded software, large-scale simulation, and cloud-native deployment, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and analysts. Prior defense experience is not required; experience with real-time systems, game engines, high-performance simulations, or systems-of-systems software frameworks is highly relevant.
As a Senior Software Engineer you will...- Provide technical expertise for design and implementation of mission-critical software or software architectures across:
- In-flight / tactical software using a modular open systems architecture (MOSA)
- Modeling and simulation (including AFSIM and similar frameworks)
- Systems-of-systems and Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) test environments
- Develop, build and deploy simulations for:
- Containerized / Kubernetes environments
- High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments (e.g., SLURM)
- Contribute to DevSecOps and GitLab-based workflows
- Provide technical leadership, mentor others, and collaborate across disciplines
QualificationsYou meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you possess...- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer/Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field
- 5+ years professional software development experience
- Strong proficiency in modern C++ (C++11 or later)
- Direct experience with Python 3 (tooling, scripting, data processing)
- Linux development experience (compiling, debugging, shell tools, basic system admin for development)
- Experience with multi-threaded/concurrent software, including:
- Threads, async/futures, or similar concurrency approaches
- Inter-process communication (message queues, JSON, sockets, gRPC, etc.) and performance considerations
- Experience with Git and branch-and-merge workflows (feature branches, merge/pull requests, code review)
- Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top 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.
Special Working Conditions: Occasional travel to sponsor, contractor, or government facilities for meetings and reviews. Occasional support of test events involving extended hours, travel aboard ships and travel to field sites.
You'll stand out if you have one or more of the following: - Master's degree or higher in CS, CE/EE, Physics, Math, or related field
- Embedded C/C++ or in-flight/real-time software experience
- Experience with AFSIM, EADSIM, or similar simulation frameworks (game engines, robotics simulators, custom modeling)
- Hands-on experience with Docker and/or Podman
- Experience deploying/operating services on Kubernetes (e.g., Rancher, OpenShift)
- Deep experience with CMake and/or Conan
- Practical experience with GitLab CI/CD (authoring and maintaining pipelines)
About UsWhy 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 at ;br>
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 contact
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.
Minimum Rate$105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate$290,000 Annually
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