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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # NSS Space Systems Engineer - **Company:** The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC - **Location:** North Laurel, MD, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $125,000.0 - $290,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Systems Analysis, Software Technical Review, System-level Testing, Dart - **Published:** August 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/17899606?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F17899606%2FNss-Space-Systems-Engineer-Maryland-Laurel ## About the Role * A BS (or higher) in engineering, physics, or equivalent with a minimum of 8 years of space engineering experience. * At least 5 years of experience with national security space related projects * Broad technical experience base and strong analytical skills. * Demonstrated leadership capability working with engineering teams and/or sponsors. * Demonstrated communications skills delivering presentations and in written documentation. * Hold an active TS/SCI security 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... * M.S. (or higher) in Systems Engineering * Experience and familiarity working directly with national security space sponsors * 15 years of experience with national security space related projects ## Description We are seeking a Space Systems Engineer to help support new concept developments and ongoing projects for National Security Space (NSS). Be Part of Something Innovative Over the past 25 years, the Space Exploration Sector at APL, has pushed the boundaries of what is possible; delivering game-changing impacts to sponsors like NASA and the Department of Defense. This includes historic, science space firsts like New Horizons reaching Pluto, Parker Solar Probe being the first to "touch" the sun, and the DART mission that redirected an asteroid for planetary defense. As a not-for-profit university affiliated research center, APL has also delivered solutions to our nation's national security challenges, as proven with the recent Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) Tech Demo, and acts as a trusted partner with the US Space Force in space domain awareness and space-integrated warfare. APL teams are currently working with NSS sponsors to develop the framework for the U.S. national security space enterprise. Our teams are defining requirements, creating architectures, planning the test and evaluation of military systems and assets, and developing advanced models and simulations. APL's core expertise extends to mission development and integration, and we are currently supporting demonstration mission design, development, and implementation for a variety of sponsors. To learn about these APL's mission and projects, https://civspace.jhuapl.edu/ and https://www.jhuapl.edu/OurWork/NationalSecuritySpace. As a Space Systems Engineer you will... * Lead engineering teams in the formulation, development, and execution of space mission concepts and system analysis in NSS. Projects range from formulation of system concepts to development of a flight mission or experiment, including hardware, software, integration and test, and operations. * Provide technical interface to sponsor and project management. * Perform systems level technical analysis, trade studies, and analysis of alternatives. * Create formal communications through systems engineering documents, reports, proposals, and oral presentations. * Lead and participate in engineering team meetings and overall technical development efforts. * Develop and lead requirements, verification, and validation efforts. * Define and manage system interfaces. * Lead, coordinate, and present at technical design reviews. * Work with project manager in defining and managing project risks. * Lead and coordinate system level testing efforts. * Be responsible for the technical aspects of delivering integrated missions, instrument payloads, spacecraft, or other mission articles. ## Related Videos - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Dart - a language believed dead, experiences a new bloom](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/442-dart-a-language-believed-dead-experiences-a-new-bloom) - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) - [Detecting Money Laundering with AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/111-detecting-money-laundering-with-ai) ## 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) - [Software Engineer Career: Things You Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/143-software-engineer-career-things-you-should-know) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [The Ultimate Software Engineer Career Path Guide for 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/146-the-ultimate-software-engineer-career-path-guide-for-2023) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Where to Find Entry-Level Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/397-where-to-find-entry-level-software-engineering-jobs)