Automation Engineer

Do you love building software that makes real systems move, measure, react, and perform with purpose?

Are you searching for important work in software engineering, automation, and hardware-integrated systems?

Are you passionate about developing reliable tools, frameworks, interfaces, and workflows that help engineers and scientists move faster?

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

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to help us develop automation, control, data acquisition, analysis, and user-facing software for advanced electromechanical systems, instrumentation, and test environments. As a member of our team, you'll contribute to software that connects hardware, sensors, actuators, devices, databases, user interfaces, and engineering workflows into reliable mission-focused systems. You will be joining a hardworking team of engineers and scientists who design, prototype, integrate, and test practical solutions for complex technical challenges. We are passionate about building software that is reusable, maintainable, and effective in real laboratory, manufacturing, and field-like environments. Our team values technical curiosity, clear communication, rapid iteration, thoughtful software architecture, and the ability to turn ambiguous needs into working tools.

As an Automation Engineer...

• Younr primary responsibility will be to design, develop, integrate, and maintain software for automated systems, test stands, instrumentation platforms, engineering tools, and hardware-connected workflows.
• You will develop software that interfaces with electromechanical systems, sensors, actuators, microcontrollers, instruments, databases, and networked devices.
• You will design reusable software frameworks, libraries, and tools that support automation, test execution, data collection, reporting, and system integration.
• You will build user interfaces, dashboards, control panels, and engineering applications that help technical teams operate systems, visualize data, and make decisions.
• You will write clean, maintainable, well-documented code and contribute to software design practices that improve reliability, reuse, testability, and long-term support.
• You will integrate hardware and software across diverse communication protocols, including TCP/UDP, serial, USB, Ethernet, and other laboratory, industrial, or embedded interfaces.
• You will support hands-on integration and troubleshooting in laboratory, shop, and test environments, working directly with mechanical, electrical, embedded, and systems engineers.
• You will help automate repetitive workflows, improve engineering productivity, and explore the use of AI-enabled development tools to accelerate coding, testing, documentation, and analysis.
• You will collaborate with engineers, scientists, technicians, vendors, sponsors, and project leads to understand requirements, identify risks, communicate blockers, and deliver practical software solutions.

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

• Possess a BS in ComputerSscience, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Have 3+ years of experience developing software for automation, robotics, instrumentation, test systems, data acquisition, engineering tools, web applications, user interfaces, or hardware-integrated systems.
• Are skilled in software development using languages such as Python, C++, C#, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar programming languages.
• Have experience designing, implementing, testing, and maintaining software applications, libraries, scripts, services, or automation tools.
• Have experience working with Linux, Windows, Git, software configuration management, debugging tools, and modern development workflows.
• Have experience integrating software with hardware, instruments, sensors, embedded devices, databases, APIs, or network-connected systems.
• Are familiar with communication protocols such as TCP/UDP, serial, USB, Ethernet, REST APIs, or similar device and system interfaces.
• Are able to work with multidisciplinary teams and translate engineering needs into practical software requirements and working implementations.
• Are willing and able to work in laboratory, shop, and test environments, including standing or walking for extended periods and moving between buildings or work areas across campus as needed.
• Are a U.S. citizen.
• Are able to obtain an Interim level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a 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...

• Possess an MS in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, robotics, mechatronics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related technical field.
• Have experience developing automation frameworks, reusable test assets, continuous execution tools, reporting pipelines, or software platforms that help non-software specialists run complex workflows.
• Have experience with front-end, back-end, or full-stack development, including modern user interface frameworks, data visualization tools, APIs, databases, or web-based engineering applications.
• Have experience with software architecture, design patterns, code reviews, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, containerization, or deployment of maintainable software systems.
• Have experience developing software for robotic systems, motion-control systems, automated test stands, advanced manufacturing equipment, laboratory instrumentation, or hardware-in-the-loop environments.
• Have experience with data acquisition, signal processing, data analysis, automated reporting, or visualization of engineering test data.
• Have experience with embedded systems, microcontrollers, firmware-adjacent development, real-time systems, or edge computing.
• Have experience using AI-enabled development tools such as Codex, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar tools to improve software development, documentation, testing, or workflow automation.
• Are comfortable breaking down complex projects into organized deliverables, identifying technical risks early, and communicating blockers clearly to project leadership.
• Have experience mentoring other developers, establishing best practices, improving software quality, or helping multidisciplinary teams adopt better software workflows.
• Bring creativity, initiative, and sound engineering judgment to ambiguous technical problems.

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 athttps://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 contactAccessibility@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.