Development Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Development Engineer jobs in Maryland are in strong demand, concentrated in defense systems, aerospace, biomedical devices, and federal contracting across the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Annapolis, and Frederick. Major employers with lasting footprints in the state include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. The most sought-after specialties are systems integration, test and evaluation, and hardware development for government and commercial programs. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Contract DSP Engineer – Military Waveform Development
We are seeking an experienced DSP Engineer to support the design and development of a military waveform demodulator. This role will focus on DSP algorithm development, waveform/filter design, and translating algorithms into optimized real-time C++ code for embedded systems. Active Secret Clearance Required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and develop waveform demodulators and DSP algorithms for military applications.
- Develop and simulate waveforms, modulation schemes, and FIR/IIR digital filters using MATLAB, Simulink, or Python.
- Translate DSP algorithms into efficient, real-time C/C++ code.
- Analyze and optimize signal processing performance, including spectral analysis and sampling.
- Support integration and testing with embedded processors, FPGAs, ADCs/DACs, and SDR platforms.
- Debug, test, and optimize software for real-time performance, memory, and processing efficiency.
Requirements:
- 10+ years of relevant DSP/software engineering experience preferred.
- Strong C/C++ development experience, particularly real-time/embedded C++.
- Hands-on experience with DSP waveform demodulator design and waveform filter design.
- Strong understanding of modulation, Fourier transforms, sampling theory, and digital filtering.
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or Python for DSP modeling and simulation.
- Active Secret clearance required.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
- On-site in Maryland
Contract Position | Active Secret Clearance Required
Pay: $80.00 - $100.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Security clearance:
- Secret (Required)
Work Location: In person
Contract DSP Engineer – Military Waveform Development
We are seeking an experienced DSP Engineer to support the design and development of a military waveform demodulator. This role will focus on DSP algorithm development, waveform/filter design, and translating algorithms into optimized real-time C++ code for embedded systems. Active Secret Clearance Required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and develop waveform demodulators and DSP algorithms for military applications.
- Develop and simulate waveforms, modulation schemes, and FIR/IIR digital filters using MATLAB, Simulink, or Python.
- Translate DSP algorithms into efficient, real-time C/C++ code.
- Analyze and optimize signal processing performance, including spectral analysis and sampling.
- Support integration and testing with embedded processors, FPGAs, ADCs/DACs, and SDR platforms.
- Debug, test, and optimize software for real-time performance, memory, and processing efficiency.
Requirements:
- 10+ years of relevant DSP/software engineering experience preferred.
- Strong C/C++ development experience, particularly real-time/embedded C++.
- Hands-on experience with DSP waveform demodulator design and waveform filter design.
- Strong understanding of modulation, Fourier transforms, sampling theory, and digital filtering.
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or Python for DSP modeling and simulation.
- Active Secret clearance required.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field.
- On-site in Maryland
Contract Position | Active Secret Clearance Required
Pay: $80.00 - $100.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Security clearance:
- Secret (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 68 Development Engineer Jobs in Maryland
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Find Development Engineer JobsDevelopment Engineer Jobs by City in Maryland
Where Maryland roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Development Engineer Job Market in Maryland
A snapshot from current Maryland openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Food & Beverage
What Maryland Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in development engineer jobs across Maryland.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an accredited program
- Active or eligible Secret security clearance for defense and federal contracting roles
- Professional Engineer licensure or eligibility through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers
- Experience with systems development lifecycle and engineering design documentation
- Proficiency in CAD tools, simulation software, or hardware prototyping methods
- Strong communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with program and testing teams
Development Engineer Jobs in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a development engineer in Maryland?
Start with a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline such as mechanical, electrical, or systems engineering from an ABET-accredited program. Maryland requires Professional Engineer licensure through the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers if you sign off on public-facing engineering work, beginning with the Fundamentals of Engineering exam after graduation. Many development engineer roles in the state, particularly in defense and federal contracting, also require obtaining a security clearance through your employer.
How much do development engineers make in Maryland?
Development engineers in Maryland earn a median of about $127,190 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,670 for the lowest 10% to over $185,220 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire development engineers in Maryland?
Maryland development engineer roles are posted by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Bohler, and Amazon Web Services and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Maryland's dense concentration of defense primes, federal laboratories, and life sciences companies makes it one of the most consistently active states for development engineer hiring.
Which Maryland cities have the most development engineer jobs?
Laurel, Baltimore, and Jessup have the most development engineer openings in Maryland. The Baltimore and Washington suburban corridor drives the bulk of listings because of its concentration of defense contractors, federal agencies, and research institutions, while smaller hubs like Frederick and Annapolis support significant aerospace and government program work that draws demand into those areas as well.
Are there remote development engineer jobs in Maryland?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely analytical roles because development engineering often involves hardware, lab work, or secure facilities. About 50% of development engineer openings tied to Maryland are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which reflects the hands-on nature of much of the work. Systems engineering, requirements analysis, and documentation-heavy roles are the most likely to offer flexible or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a development engineer in Maryland with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate engineering programs at Maryland's major defense and aerospace employers, including Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, all of which run structured rotational or associate engineer programs for candidates without prior industry experience. Lateral entry from adjacent roles such as test technician, engineering assistant, or research associate at Maryland federal labs and university-affiliated research centers is also a reliable route. Passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam early and pursuing a security clearance eligibility flag strengthens any application significantly.
Where can I find and apply to development engineer jobs in Maryland?
You can find and apply to development engineer jobs in Maryland on Migrate Mate, which lists current Maryland openings. Search the roles that match your background and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 68 Development Engineer Jobs in Maryland
Find roles in Maryland that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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