Senior Software Engineer

Do you have experience developing software and want to apply that experience to creating innovative tools and technologies to solve complex technical challenges?

Do you thrive in a collaborative research and development environment, working alongside an energetic, multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers?

Are you ready to help the US secure and maintain leadership in the development and fielding advanced data-driven solutions for national defense?

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

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Software Engineer who will contribute to all phases of the software development and deployment process. You will be joining a team of engineers and scientists who are at the forefront of APL's mission to provide innovative solutions to critical challenges.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will...

• Interact frequently with government decision makers and APL program managers to understand government sponsors' capability gaps. Collaborate with government and APL teams to develop project proposals taking into account operational requirements, resources, policies, and priority trade-offs.
• Work with cross-functional teams to craft solutions through initial phases of research, conceptualization, design, and implementation, taking into account operational requirements and constraints.
• Participate in and/or lead solution implementation in all stages from design to either deployment or transition to industry. It may include possibly partnering with industry, other APL-internal teams, and academia to identify and use best of breed existing technologies.
• Apply software development and software management best practices, tailored for the type of deliverables, project complexity, and policies and risk factors. Guide teams to create DevOps pipelines to make high-quality practices more intuitive, scalable, and maintainable.
• Interact frequently with APL managers and project teams on high-level project decisions, as well as for managing staffing, schedule, and budget.
• Communicate information on the software design and development process and software deliverables in clear, purpose-driven written and oral communications, including high-level explanation of product design and purpose at a level appropriate for government decision makers, as well as detailed interface specifications and user guides for technical teams and end users.
• Support transition and experimental activities at government facilities.
• Have the opportunity to develop and execute ideas for APL internal R&D projects with the strategic goal of anticipating longer-term government needs.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Hold a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, and have at least 5 years of relevant experience in software development and management.
• Are competent in Python and either Java or C++, and have experience specifying and configuring Windows or Linux operating system dependencies.
• Have experience building and managing modular software and microservices, with Rest APIs, containerization, orchestration, security practices (authentication/authorization).
• Have experience configuring and using specialized high-performance computing structures like GPUs and CPU clusters.
• Have experience with widely-used databases, both SQL and no-SQL.
• Have demonstrated experience with DevOps and supporting "AI/ML-ops," for best practices in software development, management, version control, CI/CD, and algorithm and other functionality testing.
• Have experience developing systems involving AI/ML application, with some experience incorporating advanced AI/ML capabilities such as foundational models.
• Can effectively lead small teams of software developers, and collaborate with cross-functional teams encompassing all aspects of the technical design and implementation.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills for technical collaboration, interaction with government partners, and APL management, and are able to constructively resolve conflicting views within and across the various contributing teams and stakeholders.
• Can effectively communicate concepts, proposals, progress, and results orally and in writing.
• Are creative and interested in novel challenges.
• Are a self-starter able to work effectively in a demanding, multi-tasking environment.
• Can support occasional travel, and work at government and military facilities for requirements gathering, transition support, etc. This includes occasional work outside of normal business hours to support such activities.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a 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.

You 'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you also ...

• Have a Master's Degree or more than 10 years of demonstrated experience with complex software development in a commercial or government setting.
• Can effectively lead larger cross-functional teams on highly complex projects, and interact with technical team members, program managers, and management executives, in this capacity.
• Have multiple years of experience configuring and managing specialized high-performance computing structures like GPUs and CPU clusters.
• Have extensive experience developing solutions involving advanced AI/ML tools (e.g. Pyspark) and mod/sim tools (including COTS and/or GOTS software), virtual environments, and foundational models

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 at http://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 contact Accommodations@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.