Group 91 Description

The Advanced Capabilities and Technologies Group within MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Space Systems and Technology Division develops and demonstrates advanced space capabilities for emerging national security missions. Our work spans novel mission architectures from very low Earth orbit to cislunar space, including dynamic space operations, tactically responsive space missions, autonomous maneuvering, distributed spacecraft coordination, distributed sensing, and advanced passive and active sensing modalities.

We combine mission analysis, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and rapid prototyping to evaluate and demonstrate transformative space capabilities. We seek exceptionally motivated and highly self-directed engineers who thrive on technically complex, multidisciplinary problems and are excited to support first-of-a-kind space capabilities from concept formulation through flight experimentation. Team members are expected to operate with substantial technical autonomy, often supporting multiple concurrent programs, and routinely lead efforts spanning mission concept development, requirements engineering, integration and test, vendor interface, and flight test operations.

Job Description

Group 91 is seeking a Technical Staff member to lead avionics engineering and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) test bed development in support of a portfolio of space mission programs. The successful candidate will lead the architecture, development, and operation of HWIL test environments and flat-sat configurations used to verify flight software and avionics hardware prior to integration and flight. This role requires hands-on experience with space hardware and assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), along with the high-fidelity compute infrastructure needed to simulate the space environment for sensor and avionics testing. This position offers the opportunity to shape avionics test infrastructure and processes across the group, mentor junior engineers, and directly support the successful demonstration of novel space capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Avionics Systems Engineering

• Lead the design, development, and integration of avionics hardware and embedded systems for spacecraft and payload applications.
• Define avionics architecture, including flight computer, sensor, actuator, and communication bus interfaces (e.g., SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, CAN, Ethernet), as well as interfaces to sensing, communications, and navigation subsystems as applicable.
• Support development and review of avionics-related requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and verification and validation (V&V) plans.
• Support integration of flight software with avionics hardware, including bring-up, debugging, and anomaly resolution.

Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) Test Bed and Flat-Sat Leadership

• Lead the architecture, development, and maintenance of HWIL test beds and flat-sat configurations, including real-time simulation environments, sensor/actuator emulation, and flight hardware interfaces.
• Define and oversee HWIL test procedures and scripts to verify flight software and avionics performance under representative operational conditions.
• Specify and integrate high-fidelity simulation compute infrastructure (e.g., real-time servers, signal/scene generation hardware) needed to represent the space environment for sensor and avionics testing.
• Support hands-on assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) activities for space hardware, including bring-up, functional testing, and environmental test support.
• Ensure consistency and traceability between HWIL test results, flight software baselines, and flight experiment procedures.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of anomalies identified during HWIL testing, and support resolution in coordination with software and hardware teams.

Team Leadership and Technical Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers supporting avionics, AI&T, and HWIL test activities.
• Support planning and resource allocation for avionics lab, flat-sat, and HWIL test bed activities across concurrent programs.
• Prepare technical documentation, analyses, and presentations for internal design reviews and external stakeholders, including sponsors.

Requirements

• A M.S. or PhD in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer science, or a closely related technical field
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with avionics system design, integration, and testing for spacecraft or related embedded platforms.
• Demonstrated experience developing or leading hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) test environments or flat-sat configurations, including real-time simulation and sensor/actuator emulation.
• Hands-on experience with space hardware, including assembly, integration, and test (AI&T) activities.
• Experience specifying or integrating high-fidelity compute infrastructure (e.g., real-time simulation servers, signal/scene generation systems) to represent operational environments for hardware testing.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and common avionics communication protocols (e.g., SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, CAN, Ethernet).
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex hardware/software integration issues independently.
• Experience leading technical efforts and mentoring junior engineers.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical findings to diverse audiences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with current space technology trends, including small satellite platforms, responsive space architectures, and on-orbit servicing/autonomy concepts.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) systems or real-time compute architectures relevant to sensor simulation and data processing.
• Understanding of spacecraft subsystems relevant to HWIL test bed design, including electro-optical (EO), infrared (IR), or radar sensing modalities; communications and data links; and inertial navigation sensors and GNSS receivers — along with methods to test, emulate, and simulate these subsystems within a HWIL or flat-sat environment.
• Experience with flight software integration and testing, including software-in-the-loop (SIL) and processor-in-the-loop (PIL) test methodologies.
• Experience with FPGA-based or embedded avionics hardware design and development.
• Experience supporting one or more flight programs, including avionics integration, launch campaigns, or on-orbit operations.