2026 Internship - Systems and Operations Research & Analysis

Do you have interest solving complex, meaningful, quantitative research and development challenges, and conveying your work to a variety of audiences?

Are you interested in making meaningful contributions to expert research, analysis, and development teams?

If you're pursuing a degree in mathematics or quantitative science or engineering, and you want to gain experience in systems and operations research and analysis, we'd love to have you join our team!

We are seeking an intern to help us support safe and secure access to the sea and undersea domains. You will be joining a hardworking team of engineers and scientists who apply the latest research and technology to support the US Navy Sea Control mission. We are passionate about finding meaningful insights in complex and sometimes seemingly contradictory data or motivations. Our team is committed to revealing actionable insights to national defense leadership to inform critical decisions. We strive to foster an environment of collaboration, and mutual respect. Our team values the passion and curiosity of every individual.

As a member of our team...

• Your primary responsibility will be to analyze and evaluate concepts and tactics for operating undersea warfare (USW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms and sensors. These technical contributions may include defining problems, developing requirements and assessment metrics, assessing systems for mission success, and documenting and presenting results.
• You will work with analysis teams and systems experts to evaluate and optimize performance and effectiveness for USW and ASW systems. You will evaluate factors such as system performance, logistic requirements, costs, and operational utility for potential concepts of operations. You will document results in formal reports and annotated briefs for delivery to Department of Defense (DoD) sponsors.

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

• Are pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in mathematics or in any quantitative science or engineering discipline.
• Are analytically skilled and have experience analyzing natural or synthetic systems or large data sets quantitatively with MATLAB, Python, R, or similar analysis development tools.
• Have initiative, motivation, flexibility, and interest in working in a team environment.
• Have a passion for discovering insightful relationships in complex data and complex system structures.
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Are able to obtain an Interim Secret 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...

• Have a Bachelor's Degree and are pursuing a Master's or Doctoral Degree in mathematics or any relevant quantitative science, engineering, or other technical discipline.
• Have demonstrated understanding of features and patterns of data that identify the characteristics and behaviors of systems or their components, or understanding of ways to translate operational needs into critical system performance measures and requirements.
• Have a current Secret or higher level security clearance.

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 at http://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 contact Accommodations@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.