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Get Ready to Meet Us

Two APL staff members work on a piece of LIDAR equipment

We’re Built for Your Success

APL’s organizational structure breaks down into four sectors, two technical departments, and five enterprise service departments. The sectors—Air and Missile Defense, Asymmetric Operations, Force Projection, and Space Exploration—are devoted to critical work sponsored by government agencies. Ten of APL’s 12 mission areas reside in these sectors.

APL’s two technical departments—National Security Analysis and Research and Exploratory Development—focus on work that brings together multidisciplinary teams of talented researchers. Each technical department has one mission area.

Our five enterprise service departments—Business, Construction, and Facilities; Communications; Information Technology Services; Security Services; and Talent Services—provide the daily infrastructure and expertise to support the Laboratory’s staff.


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Interview Guidance

When invited to interview, the next steps and timeline can vary based on the type of role. Whether interviewing in person or virtually, you will meet with a recruiter as well as members of our hiring teams. Your interview time will vary based on the number of people you are meeting. Usually, each interviewer is allocated 30–60 minutes, although some interviewers prefer to interview together.

Before your interview

Learn more about APL.

Submit an application for any position that matches your skills and interests.

Follow us on social media to learn more about the exciting work we do.

Request an accommodation.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

During your interview

Be your authentic self.

We value unique perspectives and want to know not only what you know but how you think.

We don’t expect you to know everything. If you don’t understand the question, don’t hesitate to ask clarifying questions.

After your interview

Ask for the timeline.

Don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter when you can expect to hear back about next steps or a hiring decision.

Check in.

Your recruiter will follow up with you as soon as a hiring decision is made. If you would like to send a thank you note to the hiring manager, please feel free to send it to your recruiter, who will forward it on. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your recruiter at any time if you have any questions.

Portrait of John

What Makes Our Workplace Unique?

We provide a vibrant atmosphere where you can grab lunch from a food truck on the Central Green, join a club, or work out in the fitness center. Additionally, we develop technologies and capabilities that serve national priorities and expand the frontiers of science. With more than 7,600 talented, welcoming staff members and our culture of innovation, APL is a place where you can do your best work.


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An APL staff member smiling as she works at a computer

Bring Your Authentic Self

APL staff members come from diverse backgrounds and have diverse experiences, and we’re united by our desire to contribute solutions to the critical challenges of our nation and the world. If you’re looking for a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates, we think you’ll love it here.


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Frequently Asked Questions


We use an online application system where you can view current openings and apply based on whether you’re an experienced professional, student, or recent graduate.

Yes! We recommend that you apply for any position you’re interested in and for which you’re a good fit. We do ask that you review the job description and apply only for positions you are qualified for.

Your resume is reviewed in response to the position you applied for. However, your resume will remain active in our database, which is routinely searched by our recruiters.

Yes, our system allows updates to or deletions of resumes that have been previously submitted. You are also given an opportunity to upload a different resume each time you apply for a new position.

That depends on the position. Some positions require a current security clearance while others do not. Certain positions require that the applicant be eligible to obtain and maintain a clearance. Make sure you check the job description for that information.

You must be a U.S. citizen. Additionally, there are Department of Defense Adjudicative Guidelines that are used to determine whether you qualify for a clearance.

Our employment process can take from 3 weeks to 3 months. This varies by position and may occasionally be longer. Because of the large volume of applicants, only candidates who are interviewed will be notified if the position is filled.

Usually, each interviewer is allocated 30–60 minutes, although some interviewers prefer to interview together. In some cases, you may be asked in advance to prepare and deliver a brief presentation. We try to have candidates meet all interviewers on their first interview. However, sometimes we need to ask a candidate to return for additional interviews before making a final decision.

APL is committed to promoting an innovative environment that embraces diversity, encourages creativity, and supports inclusion of new ideas. In doing so, we are 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 Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

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Area of Interest

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