Associate Software Engineer

Description

Do you enjoy solving challenging problems and want hands-on experience with cloud-native technologies, DevSecOps, and distributed systems?

Are you eager to learn from experienced engineers while contributing to secure, reliable software with real-world mission impact?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

We are looking for an Associate Software Engineer to help design, develop, and maintain critical software that supports National Security Space operations in a TS/SCI environment. You will work on scalable, secure, and observable systems for space‑domain applications such as command‑and‑control, data processing, mission planning, and multi‑domain integration tools. This is an excellent opportunity to grow your engineering skills while contributing to some of the toughest problems faced by our sponsors.

The role emphasizes DevSecOps practices, cloud‑native architectures, and secure development/deployment in classified environments. You will work on distributed systems where reliability, security, performance, and auditability are essential, and you will receive mentorship from senior engineers throughout the process.

As a Junior Software Engineer you will...

• Assist in designing and implementing backend services, APIs, and data pipelines for space‑operations software.
• Help build and maintain containerized applications and contribute to CI/CD pipelines under guidance.
• Participate in adding security controls throughout the development lifecycle (DevSecOps).
• Support development of event‑driven or messaging‑based components (e.g., basic Kafka/RabbitMQ usage).
• Follow compliance procedures for classified environments, including air‑gapped deployments and controlled updates.
• Identify and solve issue, monitor, and improve system performance and observability in test and staging environments.
• Participate in code reviews, learn from architecture discussions, and receive mentorship on standard methodologies.

Qualifications

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

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, a related field, or equivalent practical experience (internships, open‑source contributions, capstone projects).
• Have 2+ years of full software engineering experience, including software design methodology, requirements development, configuration management, trade studies, and product defect tracking
• Basic proficiency in at least one modern language/stack (C++, Java, or Python). Academic projects, internships, or personal code are acceptable.
• Foundational Docker knowledge (building and running containers) and exposure to Kubernetes concepts (pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Helm charts).
• Experience (or coursework) creating simple CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins) that run builds, tests, and basic security scans.
• Understanding of REST APIs, OpenAPI/Swagger documentation basics, and JSON data exchange (Protobuf a plus).
• Familiarity with testing practices – writing unit tests and basic integration tests.
• Comfortable using Git (feature branches, pull requests, and code reviews).
• Possess interpersonal skills and are an effective communicator.
• Have the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Are able to obtain a Top-Secret level 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:

• Possess a Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Have experience with DevOps Engineering or Process Automation
• Have experience with cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services, Azure, Google Cloud.
• Knowledge of logging frameworks (Log4j/SLF4J), ELK stack, Prometheus, Grafana.
• Introductory experience with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or other async patterns.
• Have experience with Unix, Linux, and network computing.
• Are well-versed in using professional software development tools such as integrated development environments (IDE), version control, issue trackers, debuggers and continuous integration tools and willing to lead teams through integration processes
• Interest or experience with space‑related software, real‑time systems, or large‑scale data processing.
• Knowledge of cross‑domain solutions or high‑assurance system integration is a plus.

This is a high‑impact role that offers hands‑on experience building resilient software directly supporting space‑superiority missions in a secure, forward‑leaning development environment. You will grow your technical expertise while working alongside seasoned engineers dedicated to national security.

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

$85,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$195,000 Annually