2027 Internship - Prototyping & Signal Analysis

Are you a self-motivated engineer who wants to make contributions that accelerate the readiness of the nation's defenses to support next generation hypersonic missile and re-entry systems, as well as undersea platforms?

Are you passionate about working with collaborative and dedicated teams to move ideas to prototypes and to solve signal processing challenges with real impact?

If you are studying in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Applied Physics or Mathematics and are interested in applying embedded systems, signal processing skills, or mathematical analysis to tackle national security problems with hardware prototypes and detailed analysis, we'd love to have you on our team!

We are seeking inquisitive engineers to work with our team and take problems from algorithm to fielded prototypes in areas of contested navigation, hypersonic re-entry, and long-range missile technologies. We will share our knowledge in navigation, signal processing, digital design, hardware design, and physics-based analysis to help you contribute to solving real design challenges, continuously improving on the state of the art!

As a prototyping and signal analysis intern, you will join our team to...

• Leverage various embedded technologies including FPGAs and microcontrollers to integrate sensors such as radio navigation receivers, software defined radios, or inertial measurement units (IMUs)
• Implement sophisticated signal processing algorithms for various types of communication, telemetry, and radio navigation sensors
• Use analytical and scientific programming skills to assess performance of systems, both fielded and prototype
• Make meaningful contributions as you deploy your algorithms and concepts to prototype systems and analyze their performance

Qualifications

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

• Are pursuing a B.S. or M.S. degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or similar degrees with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Are proficient in Python, Matlab, C, C++, or VHDL
• Have strong communication skills and effectively connect with technical team members and leaders
• Are passionate about and capable of learning new technologies and working with or analyzing the performance of embedded systems
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Top 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…

• Are knowledgeable in linear, discrete signal, and random signal systems
• Have knowledge in the fields of RF communications and digital signal processing (DSP), or communications engineering
• Are familiar with satellite navigation like GPS or other radio navigation concepts
• Have experience implementing algorithms with hardware platforms or embedded systems
• Have experience with software development processes or in data science

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

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 View email address on click.appcast.io.

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

$22.60 Hourly

Maximum Rate

$47.95 Hourly