Digital Design and Prototyping Section Supervisor

Do you get motivated by prototyping and building novel software solutions to human-centered challenges?

Are you passionate about collaborating with external partners and seeing new insights progress through the stages of prototyping and development?

Do you find developing and inspiring others to reach their maximum potential rewarding?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join the Human Centered Design Group (A5E) leadership team.

We are seeking a strong leader and creative thinker to lead a team of researchers, designers, and engineers in the A5E-4 Digital Design and Prototyping Section. The A5E-4 Section Supervisor will lead A5E-4 and assist the A5E Group and Assistant Group Supervisors in leading our team to apply Human Centered Design (HCD) methodologies toward tackling complex national security challenges. The A5E-4 Section Supervisor will be responsible for cultivating the group's competencies in digital product development, early-stage rapid prototyping, and user testing. The A5E-4 Section Supervisor is also expected to maintain and expand the portfolio of internal and external prototypers that partner with the Human Centered Design Group. This includes being responsible for the development and testing of novel solutions and delivering roadmaps to refine concepts to the fidelity vital to transition them to an execution partner or the sponsor.

As a A5E-4 Digital Design and Prototyping Section Supervisor...

• You will contribute significantly to the evolution and implementation of the A5E group vision and strategy. This will include things like proposing new initiatives, implementing and coordinating efforts to address current and future challenges, and setting a clear and inspiring vision for the section.
• You will interface heavily with sponsors and management, both within and outside of APL, to see opportunities for contribution, communicate the capabilities of the Human Centered Design Group, and demonstrate the team's talent in digital product design and development to deliver prototype solutions and concept blueprints or requirements.
• You will recognize internal and external needs and work with supervisors, task leaders, and staff to evaluate and prioritize those needs. This includes identifying the best approach for each need and forming teams to complete the identified tasks.
• You will actively engage and partner with section staff to assess their strengths and limitations, understand their career objectives, and seek to match staff development with project opportunities. This includes mentoring and coaching section staff members, guiding staff development opportunities, and participating in the annual performance coaching process.
• You will assess the section's current and future work, and define the resources, tools, and infrastructure vital to complete the task assignments of the section. This may include suggesting new improvements to facilities, computing resources, tools, laboratories, work spaces, etc.
• You will provide supervision and staff planning, including supervising work for timeliness, accuracy, and quality. This includes delegating and assigning task assignments to team members and ensuring quality of the section's deliverables.
• You will assist the Group and Assistant Group Supervisors in the interviewing and hiring processes. This includes identifying when expansion is vital, prioritizing needed skills and expertise, writing job requisitions, interviewing candidates, and onboarding new people into the section.
• You will push the limits of current design cycles through the application and exploration of novel technologies.

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

• Possess a BA/BFA/BS or MA/MS in a relevant field, including Interactive Design; Product Design; Software Engineering; or equivalent.
• Have knowledge in early-stage digital product design, prototyping, and development; with a minimum of 3 years of experience applying tools and methods toward client/sponsor-facing projects.
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience estimating, planning, and leading sophisticated front-end innovation projects that involve prototyping of functional digital product solutions.
• Can demonstrate a strong track record of effectively communicating discoveries and recommendations to a group of collaborators.
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience translating ideas and concepts into draft functional requirements and proof-of-principle prototypes.
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience collaborating with multiple development partners and multiple organizations to develop and prototype software and hardware integrated systems.
• Have a minimum of 1 year of experience developing and mentoring staff.
• Are able to demonstrate a track record of strong leadership skills.
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience applying human centered design methodologies toward early-stage product development projects, and are familiar with leading collaboration frameworks and methodologies from industry (e.g, Google Sprint, LUMA, etc).
• Have a minimum of 3 years of experience leading technical teams through agile development processes.
• 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...

• Experience in federal government, federal government consulting, or equivalent.
• Experience leading teams to successfully prototype and demonstrate immersive technologies.
• Experience with prototyping intelligent systems components.
• Experience with augmenting workflows with the strategic use of AI/LLM.
• An active Secret security clearance or above.
• The ability to obtain a Top-Secret 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 athttp://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 contactAccommodations@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.