What are the responsibilities and job description for the 2026 Graduate - Spacecraft Mission Design, Navigation, Guidance and Control position at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory?
Description
Are you passionate about spacecraft Mission Design, Navigation, and Guidance and Control?
Would you love to apply your technical knowledge and creativity to make innovative contributions to some of the nations spectacular space missions?
If you are graduating with a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field, we are looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
We are seeking creative engineers to help the Astrodynamics and Control Systems group develop, analyze, test, and deliver spacecraft for both NASA and National Security Space missions. Our spacecraft reach the extremes of the solar system, from Parker Solar Probe at the Sun to New Horizons at Pluto and beyond, with formation flying at Earth, as well as planetary defense with DART. We would love to have you apply your talents to our challenges. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development of some of our nation's most critical space missions, joining a hardworking team of engineers who strive to deliver game-changing solutions. You will have the opportunity to support both pre-launch spacecraft development and post-launch operations performance analysis and system updates. We are passionate about our work, striving to cultivate an environment of partnership and collaboration, and committed to making critical contributions to critical challenges.
As a member of the Astrodynamics and Control Systems team, you will...
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
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.
Minimum Rate
$85,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$165,000 Annually
Are you passionate about spacecraft Mission Design, Navigation, and Guidance and Control?
Would you love to apply your technical knowledge and creativity to make innovative contributions to some of the nations spectacular space missions?
If you are graduating with a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering or a related field, we are looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
We are seeking creative engineers to help the Astrodynamics and Control Systems group develop, analyze, test, and deliver spacecraft for both NASA and National Security Space missions. Our spacecraft reach the extremes of the solar system, from Parker Solar Probe at the Sun to New Horizons at Pluto and beyond, with formation flying at Earth, as well as planetary defense with DART. We would love to have you apply your talents to our challenges. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development of some of our nation's most critical space missions, joining a hardworking team of engineers who strive to deliver game-changing solutions. You will have the opportunity to support both pre-launch spacecraft development and post-launch operations performance analysis and system updates. We are passionate about our work, striving to cultivate an environment of partnership and collaboration, and committed to making critical contributions to critical challenges.
As a member of the Astrodynamics and Control Systems team, you will...
- Assist in the design, development, and delivery of spacecraft while supporting the mission design/navigation team as well as the guidance and control team.
- Assist the operations of legacy missions, including Parker Solar Probe, New Horizons, and STEREO, as time permits.
- Assist in the implementation of control and estimation algorithms, actuator and sensor hardware models, and dynamic simulations in MATLAB/Simulink.
- Assist in the development and testing of ground software to support the integration of testbed algorithms and flight software with flight and ground support equipment hardware.
- Assist with the integration and test of spacecraft through scenario testing and data analysis.
- Develop analysis tools for pre and post-launch activities.
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
- Have a Bachelor's or Master's degree Aerospace Engineering or related field.
- Have previous experience or significant coursework in the design, analysis, or development of complex aerospace systems.
- Are skilled in analytical and numerical computing software, such as MATLAB and Simulink.
- 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.
- Have experience in extended Kalman Filters, Frequency Domain Analysis, or Stability and Jitter Analysis.
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.
Minimum Rate
$85,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$165,000 Annually
Salary : $85,000 - $165,000