Engineering-Assistant Staff
Date: Feb 18, 2026
Location: Lexington, MA, US
Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Position Description
The Tactical Autonomy Group develops and delivers AI-enabled autonomy and robotic systems where it counts - at the tactical edge. As an FFRDC, we combine academic depth in algorithms, controls, and machine learning, the execution speed of industry, and direct mission pull from operational end-users to solve problems others can’t. We don’t stop at papers: we design, build, integrate, field-test, and transition autonomy stacks - spanning perception, decision-making, learning, and control - into real operations across the DoD and Intelligence Community.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors in Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field with dedicated coursework in robotics, control theory, and programming.
- Strong programming skills in a systems language (e.g., C++ or Rust), a numerical analysis language (e.g., Julia, MATLAB, or Python), and a scripting language (e.g., Python, Bash, or Lua).
- Experience developing software with ROS/ROS2 in Linux environments.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to coherently convey complex technical details.
- Prior internship experience within the field of robotics or autonomous
Preferred Qualifications (Exceptional Candidates may also have one or more of):
- Direct exposure to advanced controls topics (e.g. optimal control).
- Experience with GPS denied navigation and modern state estimation techniques
- Experience with modern computer vision algorithms (e.g. OpenCV, YOLO, SAM3D, Neural Radiance Fields, Gaussian splatting) and hardware implementation
- Experience integrating algorithms and software in to field-tested robotic platforms
- Active DoD SECRET security clearance and ability to obtain TOP SECRET
Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $100,200 - $120,000
Experienced Hiring Range: $100,000 - $150,000
Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including—but not limited to—the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.
At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
- MIT-funded pension
- Matching 401K
- Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
- Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
- Mentorship programs
- A range of work-life balance options
- ... and much more!
Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.
Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.
Requisition ID: 42710
Nearest Major Market: Boston
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Controls Engineer, Lab Assistant, Security Clearance, Military Intelligence, Testing, Engineering, Science, Government, Technology
