Geophysicist Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Description
Do you want to work on systems that ensure U.S. naval platforms always know where they are, where they're going, and how accurately they can get there?
Are you excited by challenging, real-world problems in navigation, sensing, and geophysics-plus the software and analytics that make them work?
Are you looking to grow quickly by learning from experts across physics, engineering, data science, and software?
If you are graduating with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a STEM discipline and are interested in navigation for undersea, surface, and future platforms, we'd like you to join our team.
We are seeking multiple early-career analysts, scientists, and engineers from a variety of technical backgrounds to help ensure the U.S. Navy-and future mission partners-have the most accurate and reliable navigation capabilities in the world. Our team supports deployed submarine and surface ship systems today and is expanding into new mission areas and alternative navigation concepts for tomorrow. You will join a multi-disciplinary team of physicists, software developers, mathematicians, engineers, and geophysicists who perform data analysis, modeling and simulation, systems engineering, technology roadmapping, and geophysical research for navigation.
As a member of our group, depending on your skills and interests, you may contribute in one or more of the following areas:

• Operational Data Analysis
• Analyze data from deployed submarine and surface ship navigation systems to assess real-world performance.
• Develop and apply metrics, visualizations, and statistical techniques to quantify accuracy, robustness, and reliability.
• Help diagnose anomalies and recommend improvements to systems and procedures.
• Modeling, Simulation, and Accuracy Analysis
• Develop physics-based models and simulations of navigation systems and sensors.
• Apply statistical estimation and data fusion techniques (e.g., Kalman filters) to evaluate system performance.
• Perform trade studies and sensitivity analyses to understand how design choices and environmental factors impact navigation accuracy.
• Tools, Software, and Analytic Methods
• Design and implement intuitive, robust software tools that transform raw, large-scale data into actionable insight.
• Implement best practices for development, testing, and maintenance of analytical software used across the group.
• Prototype new analytic methods and automation to increase the efficiency and impact of navigation analyses.
• Systems Engineering, Test & Evaluation, and Technology Roadmapping
• Support test planning, execution, and analysis for submarine and surface ship navigation systems.
• Contribute to system requirements, design reviews, and technology assessments.
• Help develop technology roadmaps that guide future investments in navigation capabilities.
• Geophysics and Alternative Navigation
• Contribute to the development and refinement of navigation-relevant geophysical products (e.g., gravity maps, magnetic models, bathymetry-based approaches).
• Explore and evaluate alternative navigation concepts that exploit geophysical signatures and environmental information.
• Help develop and integrate geophysical models into navigation simulations and system analyses.

Across all areas, you will:

• Work with multi-disciplinary teams to collect, process, and analyze data and to assess the performance of navigation systems and their integration within systems-of-systems for various U.S. Navy platforms.
• Build forward-looking analytical solutions to test and evaluate prototype and operational navigation systems.
• Collaborate closely with sponsors and partners, learning their missions and tailoring analyses and tools to meet their needs.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Ocean, Systems), Computer Science or Software Engineering, Statistics/Data Science, Physics, Geophysics, Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related subject.
• Have strong problem-solving, analytical, collaborative, and organizational skills.
• Have a strong sense of curiosity about how complex systems-especially navigation systems-work and are motivated to explore data, models, and documentation to find out.
• Have excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills needed to document methods, explain results, and present work to colleagues and government sponsors.
• Have experience in Python and/or Matlab.
• Are willing and able to travel occasionally to U.S. Navy facilities, bases, test sites, and contractor locations to support tests and present results.
• Are able to obtain a Secret security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret 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...

• Hold an active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
• Have experience working with the Department of Defense, particularly U.S. Navy systems, tests, or sponsors.
• Have coursework, projects, or internship experience related to navigation, guidance, geophysics, signal processing, or autonomous systems.
• Have a demonstrated understanding of surface or subsurface navigation concepts (e.g., inertial navigation, GPS/GNSS, underwater navigation, celestial navigation, map-matching).
• Advanced Analytics and AI/ML
• Have experience with machine learning, statistical inference, or AI integration in technical environments.
• Have experience applying data fusion techniques (e.g., Kalman filtering, Bayesian estimation) or signal processing methods to real data.
• Software Engineering Practices
• Have experience with Agile software development practices or full lifecycle software development.
• Have experience with modern software development workflows, including:
• Configuration management and version control tools (e.g., Git, GitLab).
• Issue tracking and code review
• Automated testing
• Continuous integration / continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines
• Geophysical and Environmental Modeling
• Have experience with gravity, magnetic, bathymetric, or other geophysical modeling and mapping.
• Have relevant coursework and/or experience with potential field theory, geophysical processing, and related modeling methods.
• Have worked with geospatial data, GIS tools, or environmental models relevant to navigation.

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 Accessibility@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