NSS Senior Space Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an NSS Senior Space Systems Engineer to lead end-to-end space mission architecture and design for national security sponsors. In this role, you will define system requirements, perform mission and payload trade studies, model performance, and guide integration of spacecraft, payload, ground, and communications segments. You'll collaborate with experts across disciplines, mentor junior staff, and brief government partners while advancing innovative concepts that shape future space capabilities in a mission-driven, research-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and analysis of national security space systems and missions.
• Develop system requirements, interfaces, and verification/validation plans.
• Perform mission modeling, trade studies, and performance analysis.
• Guide integration of spacecraft, payloads, ground systems, and communications segments.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across APL, government, and industry partners.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and peer review for engineering teams.
• Prepare and present technical briefings, reports, and documentation to sponsors.
• Support proposal development, concept studies, and technology roadmapping.

Required Skills

• Space systems engineering
• Systems requirements and interface management
• Mission design and analysis
• Modeling and simulation (e.g., STK, MATLAB, GMAT)
• Spacecraft and payload integration
• Verification and validation planning
• Orbital mechanics and astrodynamics
• RF communications and ground systems concepts
• Risk, reliability, and trade study analysis
• Technical leadership and technical writing