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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Kill Chain Engineer - National Security Space - **Company:** The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC - **Location:** Laurel, MD, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $105,000.0 - $290,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), 3d Models, Systems Engineering, C++ (Programming Language), Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Rhapsody, Product Software Implementation Methods, Software Requirements Analysis, Data Streaming, Systems Modeling Language, UML, Information Technology, Modeling and Simulation, DODAF, Programming Languages - **Published:** August 28, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9124541/kill-chain-engineer-national-security-space ## About the Role * Have a Bachelor' s degree in systems engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, statistics, or other engineering or related discipline. * Have 10+ years of professional experience in the systems engineering of kill chains, weapons systems, or C2 systems. * Have demonstrated experience deriving top level requirements for a system and decomposing them down to the lower levels. * Possess strong analytical, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills. * Have experience with higher level programming languages ( e. g. Python, C++, Java, or MATLAB) * Have participated on teams implementing MBSE techniques and practices on programs and effectively communicate technical results to the team, leadership, and government sponsors * Are a big- picture thinker, capable of tracing data flows and operations paths through a complicated, multi- organizational architecture * Ability to travel up to 10% as needed * Hold an active Top Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain TS/SCI 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 an analytical understanding of multiple kill chains involving distributed assets where the target and/ or assets are in space * Active-duty military experience related to Planning, C2, Battle Management, Fires, or Intel A Master's Degree or higher in engineering or related technical field * Experience in a formal technical leadership role, leading a technical team, building modeling and simulation systems and models to assess space-based systems and space communication systems * Demonstrated experience performing test and evaluation of military or intelligence systems * Experience with systems- of-systems physics & effects- based simulation tools (AFSIM, NGTS, etc) * Systems architecting experience with UML/SysML modeling tools using associated modeling software, such as Cameo, Rhapsody, or SPARX EA. * Experience with modeling frameworks such as the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) or Unified Architecture Framework (UAF) ## Description Are you motivated to apply your systems engineering skills to inform the future of our nation' s architecture to secure our interests in, from, and going to space? Do you enjoy finding innovative solutions to complex problems? Are you an " end- to-end systems thinker" with kill chain execution, analysis, design, and/ or test/evaluation experience who is ready to address the challenges facing the Space Force? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL! We are seeking a dynamic and driven technical thinker to demonstrate their systems and systems of systems perspective to support multi- disciplinary teams. The domain involves engineering of a sequence of asset functions to efficiently and effectively employ effects against enemy threats. Some of the friendly assets are in space and the enemy threats may be as well, depending on the specific kill chain. This role requires communication and coordination between systems to track, identify, and defeat threatening objects. You will be joining a team of hardworking engineers, software developers, data scientists, and analysts committed to advancing the state of the art in space- based defense capabilities. We believe in building multi-faceted teams, continually growing our capabilities, and cultivating a work environment that embraces innovation, integrity, trust, and collaboration. As a member of our team you will... * Work with a team to conceive novel and effective threat kill chains utilizing space-based systems to meet the needs of the warfighter and intelligence communities * Define and maintain the traceability between enterprise- level needs and the systems being developed to me them * Use innovative systems engineering and simulation tools to understand system requirements and performance * Drive the mission engineering, systems engineering, prototyping, and T&E of novel capabilities and architectures * Design and refine interface messages between federated systems * Work through all phases of the project lifecycle to ensure fielded systems meet the needs of the warfighter * Be responsible for software implementation of proof-of-concept prototypes incorporating several engineering fields. ## Related Videos - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) - [Leveraging Large Language Models for Legacy Code Translation: Challenges and Solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1157-leveraging-large-language-models-for-legacy-code-translation-challenges-and-solutions) - [ChatGPT and Java: A Match Made in Heaven or Hell?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/536-chatgpt-and-java-a-match-made-in-heaven-or-hell) - [Cyber Sleuth: Finding Hidden Connections in Cyber Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/893-cyber-sleuth-finding-hidden-connections-in-cyber-data) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Beyond UML: Making Sense of AI-Generated Code through Visual Architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2102-beyond-uml-making-sense-of-ai-generated-code-through-visual-architecture) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Dev Digest 134 - Where pixels sing?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/477-dev-digest-134-where-pixels-sing) - [Top 6 Hackathons for Developers in 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/263-top-6-hackathons-for-developers-in-2023) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [What Jobs Can You Get with a Software Engineering Degree?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/398-what-jobs-can-you-get-with-a-software-engineering-degree) - [Software Engineer Career: Things You Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/143-software-engineer-career-things-you-should-know)