Interoperability and Communications Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an Interoperability and Communications Systems Engineer to design, integrate, and analyze secure, mission-critical communications for defense and aerospace missions within our Engineering & Design Department. You will develop architectures, interfaces, and data standards across RF, SATCOM, tactical data links, and IP networks, using modeling and simulation to optimize performance. Collaborating with experts across disciplines, you'll prototype, test, and validate complex systems while advancing interoperability and resilience for critical national security and space missions.

Responsibilities

• Design and integrate secure interoperability and communications systems for defense and aerospace missions
• Develop architectures, interfaces, and data standards for complex, multi-domain systems
• Evaluate and prototype RF, SATCOM, tactical data links, and IP-based communications solutions
• Conduct modeling, simulation, and performance analysis of communications networks
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate mission needs into technical designs
• Support lab and field testing, verification, and validation of communications systems
• Document designs, test results, and technical findings for sponsors and stakeholders
• Stay current on emerging communications and interoperability standards and technologies

Required Skills

• Systems engineering
• RF communications
• SATCOM systems
• Tactical data links (e.g., Link 16)
• Network engineering (IP, routing, Qo
• S)
• Interoperability standards (STANAG, MIL-STD)
• Modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB, OPNET)
• Cybersecurity for communications systems
• Requirements analysis and architecture design
• Test planning and verification/validation