Communications and Networking Scientist Job at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Are you a driven individual looking to solve a wide variety of complex challenges related to communication systems design?

Do you have a strong desire to collaborate and work within a team of highly-skilled researchers?

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

We are seeking a highly motivated communications and networking scientist who will contribute to all phases of communications systems development. You will be joining a team of engineers and scientist who are at the forefront of APL’s mission to provide innovative solutions to critical challenges in supporting distributed operations in contested environments.

As a Communications and Networking Scientist...

• You will design, implement and analyze prototype algorithms for future resilient and secure communication networks able to operate in highly contested environments.
• You will work as part of a team to develop communications solutions based on the needs of applications and considerations such as space, weight, and power, and propagation environment. As circumstances allow, you will lead teams on specific engineering tasks.
• You will provide status updates, analysis results, and algorithms in written reports and in presentations to Laboratory, Government, and Contractor management.
• You will assist in developing and updating strategic plans for the growth efforts in the communications technical area, and in business development opportunities, such as preparing proposals, or responses to government Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)

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

• Have a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field
• Have 5+ years of experience in communications systems design
• Have a strong theoretical background in one or more of the following technical areas: communications theory, probability theory, information theory, optimization
• Have both theoretical and practical knowledge of data, network and transport layers of communication systems
• Have experience with MATLAB, Python and/or C/C++ for algorithm development, modeling, and simulation
• Can effectively communicate ideas and results
• Have demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI 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 PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field
• Have knowledge of wireless communication concepts (OFDM, MIMO, etc.) 
• Have knowledge of satelittle communications systems
• Have good understanding of current cellular or Wi-Fi communication standards such as 5G, 4G, IEEE 802.11x
• Have good understanding of current military datalinks (e.g. CDL, Link-16/MIDS)
• Have experience applying machine learning concepts in communications system design settings
• Have an active Top Secret security clearance

Why work at APL?

While the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory brings world-class expertise to a broad range of challenges, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, innovation ecosystem where you can feel safe to share ideas and to continue to grow personally and professionally. At APL, we celebrate our differences and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas and have earned Best Places to Work accolades in outlets such as Fast Companies and Glassdoor.

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 www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

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APL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. 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 promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are 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. Only by ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard are we empowered to be bold, do great things, and make the world a better place.

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.