Network Software Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is hiring an experienced Network Software Engineer for onsite work in Laurel, MD supporting Government communications missions.

Responsibilities

• Contribute technically and provide leadership on software systems supporting critical Government communications.
• Share thought leadership by collaborating with colleagues to propose new approaches and concepts for challenging communications and application software problems.
• Architect, develop, integrate, and test software-based command and control, secure communications, and networking systems in operationally realistic environments.
• Work closely with mission sponsors to support mission success.
• Collaborate with specialists across disciplines as part of a multi-organizational team.
• Document work through technical reports and memoranda and present findings to sponsors and the technical community.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant software systems experience, ideally with Linux.
• Strong networking fundamentals, including: TCP/IP, UDP, routing, switching, DNS, and HTTP/HTTPS.
• Proven ability to develop software using current best practices, with experience in several of: C, C++, Python, Rust, BASH scripting.
• Experience creating debugging approaches and using tools such as tcpdump, Wireshark, netstat, and ss.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to work independently and within a multi-organizational team.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
• Security clearance: Active Top Secret clearance required; must be able to ultimately obtain TS/SCI. U.S. citizenship required. If selected, the candidate will be subject to a Government security clearance investigation and must meet requirements for access to classified information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 20+ years of relevant software systems experience.
• Experience leading software projects and managing teams of engineers.
• Exposure to US Government and military communications systems and network technologies, including voice and video streaming or conferencing software.
• Experience implementing or adapting network protocols (application, transport, routing, or custom protocols).
• Deep Linux networking internals knowledge (kernel stack, netfilter, eBPF, XDP).
• Experience developing and troubleshooting real-time, low-latency, or high-bandwidth systems.
• Experience with container networking and orchestration (Kubernetes, CNI plugins, service meshes).
• Familiarity with software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV).
• Experience applying DevOps practices, processes, and tools.
• Experience applying software expertise across full project lifecycles, including requirements analysis, design, implementation, and testing.
• Security clearance: Active Top Secret clearance with SSBI and recently adjudicated for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information.

Technologies

• TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS
• C, C++, Python, Rust, BASH scripting
• tcpdump, Wireshark, netstat, ss
• Linux

Compensation

• Minimum: $100,000 annually
• Maximum: $245,000 annually
• Pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting.
• Actual compensation may vary based on 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 hours worked.
• APL may offer bonuses or other compensation per internal policy or contractual designation.
• Additional compensation may be available, such as sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

Benefits

• Robust education assistance program
• Unparalleled retirement contributions
• Healthy work/life balance
• 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 accepted on a rolling basis