Lead Systems Realization Engineer

Do you thrive at the intersection of deep, first-principles engineering analysis and authoritative system architecture?

Are you looking to apply your technical mastery to nationally vital strategic deterrence programs where the analytical bar must be absolute?

Do you want to operate as an authoritative technical leader who bridges physical reality with the digital engineering thread?

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

We are seeking a Lead Systems Realization Engineer to help us drive the physical credibility and architectural resilience of strategic weapon systems. Based within the System Realization and Resilience Group, you will operate as a core technical anchor for our mission area, integrating specialty engineering, multi-physics analysis, and digital engineering across complex system-of-systems. You will join an accomplished team of engineers and scientists dedicated to solving high-consequence defense challenges where rigorous analytical proof takes precedence over administrative process.

We value technical candor, collaborative leadership, and the rare ability to marry deep physical calculations with disciplined Model
- Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

• Shape Strategic Architectures: Interrogate and architect advanced weapon concepts using integrated digital engineering frameworks, coupling structural, thermal, flight-dynamics, and reliability analyses directly into Cameo/Magic Draw to ensure designs survive severe operational and threat environments.

• Lead First-Principles Technical Studies: Drive, execute, and defend multidisciplinary engineering analyses (e.g., structural-thermal, electromagnetic, nuclear surety, logistics, and statistical margin assessments) that establish the authoritative technical baseline for program sponsors.

• Serve as a Trusted Technical-Direction Agent: Establish the technical standard for system design, risk mitigation, and verification regimes. While programs hold acquisition authority, you will set the engineering benchmark—providing the definitive analyses and trade studies against which deviations must be technically justified.

• Anchor the Digital Thread: Apply hands-on SysML/MBSE expertise to embed quantitative analysis results, parametric constraints, and performance budgets into a unified digital baseline, ensuring unbroken mathematical traceability from high-level operational requirements through test data reduction.

• Communicate with Technical Authority: Deliver high-density briefings and decision-ready technical reports to senior military sponsors, national laboratory partners, and prime contractors, articulating nuanced physical phenomena and trade-offs with absolute clarity.

• Navigate Complex Technical Ecosystems: Guide and influence multidisciplinary teams across government, industry, and academia without relying on formal authority, establishing consensus through demonstrated analytical rigor and technical integrity.

• Multidisciplinary Design Depth: A proven record of leading technical design and analysis efforts across multiple distinct "hard-science" engineering domains (e.g., mechanical, electrical, aerospace, nuclear, chemical, materials).

• Quantitative & Analytical Rigor: Extensive expertise developing, modifying, or coupling high-fidelity physics-based, logistics-based, or statistical models and simulations to characterize system behavior from first principles.

• Authentic MBSE Fluency: Active, hands-on proficiency in Cameo Enterprise Architect / Magic Draw, treating SysML models as living, analytical architectures capable of running trade studies, enforcing parametric constraints, and governing system realization.

• Comprehensive Systems Engineering Mastery: Deep command of the entire systems engineering lifecycle, translating complex sponsor missions into verified, verifiable physical solutions.

• Collaborative Technical Leadership: Demonstrated ability to mentor the next generation of analysts, challenge technical assumptions productively, and guide technical specialists toward cohesive engineering realization.

• Possess a Bachelor of Science in a foundational engineering discipline (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronic, Nuclear, Chemical, Materials) or applied physical science.

• Have 10+ years of relevant quantitative engineering design and analysis experience, including 5+ years in a…