Job Description

We are seeking a Staff Engineer who is responsible for the development and implementation of hardware and software systems required for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) research program directed by Dr. Steven Keller and Dr. Sung-Min Cho. The Staff Engineer will support Dr. Keller and Dr. Cho in the development of the physiological control system that drives the advanced life support system detailed in the research program. The project will include use of sensors, control algorithms, and computer simulations of clinical disease to inform development of an automated form of advanced life support. The Staff Engineer will work closely with the project directors (Dr. Keller and Dr. Cho) and is also expected to work in coordination with project teams at other partner sites. This position provides an excellent opportunity for an individual passionate about applying engineering and technical expertise to further high-impact academic research.



DARPA is an agency within the US Department of Defense that seeks to produce transformational innovation. Dr. Keller and Dr. Cho have been awarded a substantial DARPA contract to develop a novel life support platform. This project will combine advanced engineering and the leading edge of clinical medicine to produce a new means of supporting trauma patients. The project team is a unique academic-industry partnership lead by Johns Hopkins University that is comprised of multiple research academic institutions and a leading medical device company. The environment created by this partnership is highly dynamic and will provide unique opportunities for engaging leaders in medicine and technology from across government, academia, and industry. The broader goal of this project is to define the future of critical care medicine and create new life support technology to improve survival for patients suffering from life-threatening organ failure. The Staff Engineer role will have an important operational and design role within the project and will work closely with Dr. Keller and Dr. Cho on realizing the program.



This specific role is one that has the opportunity significant breadth of new experience and learning new skills. The successful candidate will enjoy novel challenges and the opportunity to expand beyond existing knowledge and skillset boundaries. This role will also have an important responsibility in shaping the overall intellectual environment of the laboratory and will be a foundational component of the team.



Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Provide overall project engineering design and management.
Design, build, and optimize experimental setups and systems to meet the requirements of ongoing research projects.
Develop and maintain mechanical, electrical, and/or software systems to support complex experiments, ensuring the integrity, reproducibility, and scalability of research findings.
Identify and troubleshoot technical issues with experimental apparatus, sensors, or software and recommend solutions to improve performance and accuracy.
Work with project directors to define the engineering implementation strategy of key project research themes.
Oversee determination of required engineering equipment and its purchase and maintenance.
Document and present findings at both regular internal meetings as well as with external project partners.
Assist in the preparing and presentation of results with government research sponsor and coordinate interaction with government project evaluators.
Assume role as a team member and technical resource on projects across the lab.
Provide project analysis as requested and contribute ideas and proposals.
Other duties as assigned.


Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in related field.
Minimum of five years of related experience.
Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.




Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics.
Prior experience in academic research.
Experience in 3D printing, custom part design and machining, CAD design, and rapid prototyping techniques.