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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Hardware Systems Engineer - **Company:** The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC - **Location:** Laurel, MS, United States - **Experience:** Experienced - **Salary:** $100,000.0 - $245,000.0 - **Contract:** Contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Automation of Tests, C++ (Programming Language), Code Coverage, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, Digital Electronics, Python (Programming Language), Real-Time Operating Systems, RTLinux, Shell Script, Software Engineering, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, VxWorks, Scripting, Real Time Systems, Computer Equipment, Information Technology - **Published:** August 7, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.dice.com/job-detail/21346484-ee26-4e1c-84dc-bb0e2d435b74 ## About the Role Are you passionate about digital hardware, embedded systems, and complex tactical systems? Do you enjoy digging into circuit card designs, system architectures, and lab integration work?, * Possess a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field. * Have 3+ years of experience working in an engineering role (hardware, systems, embedded, or closely related). * Are skilled in one or more of the following: - Digital hardware or circuit card assembly design, review, or test. - Embedded/real-time systems or computer architectures. - Systems engineering for complex systems. * Are willing and able to travel up to 10% as needed. * 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... * Have a Master's or Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field. * Have 5 or more years of experience working with: - Complex circuit card assembly design taken from concept through manufacturing and production of multiple units. - Printed circuit board design, manufacturing, and test processes. - Embedded real-time or near real-time systems and real-time operating systems (e.g., VxWorks, RT Linux, Integrity). - Computer architectures, including VPX-based or SOSA-aligned systems. * Have familiarity or experience with: - Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standard. - VITA 46, VITA 65 (VPX) standards. - Cybersecurity fundamentals and practice for embedded/tactical systems. - Anti-tamper systems engineering and technologies. - Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methods and tools. - Navy and/or other DoD tactical systems . - Software engineering, scripting, or code design (e.g., C/C++, Python, shell scripting) to support integration, test automation, or tooling. * Hold an active Top Secret or higher security clearance, or are able to qualify for one ## Description We are seeking an experienced Hardware Systems Engineer to help us design, review, and evolve mission-critical distributed C2 systems for DoD applications. You'll be joining a hardworking team of engineers who tackle challenging real-time problems in support of the warfighter. We strive to foster an environment of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development, integration, and sustainment of advanced tactical systems. As a Hardware Systems Engineer in the Distributed C2 Real-time Engineering * Your primary responsibility will be to review and contribute to the design and integration of complex digital hardware and embedded systems, with a strong focus on circuit card assemblies, computing architectures, and system-level performance. * You will review circuit card schematics, drawings, and test procedures, providing thoughtful and technically sound feedback to improve design quality and test coverage. * You will support ongoing equipment obsolescence analysis and future equipment architecture planning, particularly around computing hardware, operating systems, and cybersecurity. * You will participate in systems engineering activities for a complex DoD tactical system, including requirements analysis, architecture definition, and verification planning. * You will contribute to hardware/software integration and testing in a development laboratory, assisting with troubleshooting and root cause analysis across hardware and software boundaries. ## Related Videos - [JavaScript? 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