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.
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.
Submit an application for any position that matches your skills and interests.
To ensure the safety and well-being of the community, APL has established COVID-19 safety guidelines for our visitors. Please review our Visitor Information page for current guidance regarding vaccination and testing requirements, as well as face-covering and social-distancing requirements, when visiting APL during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.
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.
Don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter when you can expect to hear back about next steps or a hiring decision.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To ensure the safety and well-being of the community, APL has established a policy requiring that all staff be vaccinated against COVID-19. All staff members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved accommodation. Please reach out to your recruiter if you have any questions about this requirement.
To ensure the safety and well-being of the community, APL has established COVID-19 safety guidelines for our visitors. Please review our Visitor Information page for current guidance regarding vaccination and testing requirements, as well as face-covering and social-distancing requirements, when visiting APL during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to your start date, we require a background investigation and a drug test. Please note that as a federal contractor, we follow federal law with respect to controlled substances, including marijuana. We will also verify your education, if applicable. If your position requires a security clearance, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. There may be additional pre-employment screening requirements based on the role. If you have any questions about these requirements, don’t hesitate to ask your recruiter.