Entry Level System Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Description Are you interested in working with multidisciplinary teams to plan, execute, and analyze experiments that shape the future of intelligent combat systems? Do you enjoy applying systems thinking, data analysis, and engineering principles to solve complex problems and help deliver advanced capabilities to the U.S. warfighter? Are you excited by the opportunity to work across Test & Evaluation, Systems Engineering, and C4ISR architecture development while supporting cutting-edge technologies, including autonomous systems and applied AI? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, we are looking for someone like you to join our team in the Intelligent Combat Systems Group at APL! APL's Force Projection Sector, Intelligent Combat Systems Group (KVM) is seeking an entry-level engineer with a strong technical background (engineering, computer science, or related field) and interest in both Test & Evaluation (T&E) and Systems Engineering (SE). You will help plan and execute events, perform data reduction and analysis, and support development of C4ISR system architectures and technical reports for government sponsors. Success in this role requires being a systems thinker, strong communication skills for cross-team and cross-organization collaboration, and an interest in applied AI technologies is a plus. Who are we? We are the Intelligent Combat Systems Group, and our mission is to ensure our Nation maintains the operational advantage on the future battlefield through foundational advances in artificial intelligence, autonomy, manned-unmanned teaming, and intelligent combat systems. Our engineers and scientists develop, integrate, and evaluate innovative technologies that enable our military sponsors to make better decisions, respond faster, and operate more effectively in increasingly complex operational environments. Our success depends not only on developing advanced technologies, but also on rigorously evaluating their performance and understanding how they integrate into larger mission systems. We work across government, industry, and academia to plan and execute operationally relevant experiments, develop system architectures, analyze complex datasets, and provide sponsors with the technical insight needed to transition new capabilities into the field. As an Associate Systems / Test & Evaluation Engineer, your primary responsibilities are: * Test & Evaluation / Event Support * Support planning and coordination of technical tests, experiments, and demonstrations (including classified/high-side events).
* Assist with event execution, including setup, configuration checks, data collection, and real-time coordination with internal and external participants.
* Contribute to post-event reviews, capturing observations, issues, and lessons learned to inform future events.
Data Reduction, Analysis, and Reporting * Perform data reduction (cleaning, organizing, and basic processing of event data).
* Conduct basic quantitative and qualitative analysis to assess system performance and identify trends and issues.
* Assist in preparation of test plans, data summaries, and technical reports, as well as briefings for sponsors and cross-organizational stakeholders.
Systems Engineering / C4ISR Architecting * Apply systems thinking to support C4ISR architecture development, including system functions, interfaces, and data flows at the system-of-systems level.
* Contribute to meta model development and automation to capture requirements, interfaces, and constraints in SE and T&E processes.
* Help apply model-based or tool-assisted approaches and support integration of applied AI technologies where appropriate to improve traceability and repeatability.
Coordination, Governance, and Stakeholder Engagement * Assist with coordination and governance activities for cross-team and cross-organizational working groups and leadership forums.
* Use strong verbal and written communication skills to support stakeholder management, including scheduling, status tracking, and action-item follow-up with sponsors and partners.
* Provide administrative and logistical support (room reservations, calendar coordination, visit requests, documentation control) to enable effective technical execution. Qualifications You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you... * Bachelor's degree in a technical field such as Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline.
* Have at least 1 year of experience in Test & Evaluation and Systems Engineering.
* Evidence of being a systems thinker, able to understand and reason about complex, interconnected systems and mission threads.
* Have experience with data analysis tools or methods (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Excel, or similar).
* Strong written and oral communication skills, with ability to work effectively across teams and organizations and contribute to technical reports and presentations.
* Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams, manage multiple tasks, and follow through on commitments.
* Hold an active Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a 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... * Exposure to systems engineering methods (requirements analysis, functional decomposition, interface definition, architecture modeling).
* Experience with test planning and execution (test plans, procedures, data collection) in laboratory or field environments.
* Familiarity with C4ISR systems or mission concepts in defense or national security contexts.
* Interest or experience in applied AI / machine learning technologies and their use in intelligent combat or decision-support systems.
* Experience with MBSE tools or approaches (e.g., SysML, Cameo/MagicDraw, Enterprise Architect) and/or scripting/automation (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
* Have an active Secret or higher security clearance. About Us 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 https://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 . 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 $100,000 Annually Maximum Rate $245,000 Annually