UAV/Sensor Development, Prototyping, and Testing-Associate Staff

Job Overview

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Associate Staff provide critical multi-domain through expert multi-domain innovative research supporting the Laboratory’s national security mission. They prototype state-of-the-art technology solutions and engage in many steps of a program lifecycle with increasing independence and responsibility. As an Associate Staff member, you will contribute independently to multidisciplinary efforts, contribute to sponsor briefings, write test plans and reports, and apply complex and creative solutions to solving technical problems. You may own discrete project/program components or lead complex workstreams and small teams. 

As a successful candidate, you will bring solid to strong technical depth, broaden your understanding across adjacent disciplines, and adapt approaches where precedent is limited. You will integrate technical inputs, contribute to program documentation and reporting, and collaborate with interdisciplinary project/program teams supporting projects that may range from rapid, high-risk efforts to longer-term mission programs. Your work will include multiple activities such as hardware and software development, systems analysis, data analysis, component fabrication, system integration, testing, and documentation. 

Additional Job Overview Details

The Advanced Capabilities & Systems Group is seeking highly motivated engineers to join our team to develop new low-cost sensors across different modalities (RF, EO/IR, acoustic, etc.), electronic attack/protections (EA/EP) systems, and uncrewed airborne/surface/underwater vehicles (UAV/USV/UUV).  Successful candidates will work in teams to rapidly develop, integrate, prototype, and test complete systems to be transitioned for use by U.S service members.  Additional responsibilities include customer presentations/demonstrations and team/project management.

The Advanced Capabilities & Systems Group works on innovative and fast-paced sensor development and uncrewed autonomous system programs (such as the Perdix micro UAS) from concept through operational prototype. Technical staff have the opportunity to work closely with service members to develop impactful solutions to some of the government’s most challenging problems.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Own or lead design, development, data analysis, programming, modeling, simulation, integration, testing, troubleshooting, and technical evaluation activities within broader project or program efforts. 
• Apply technical depth and judgment to less-defined and complex problems, identifying appropriate methods, adapting established approaches, and evaluating trade-offs. 
• Contribute to or lead system-, subsystem-, or component-level work spanning multiple disciplines, mission needs, products, or technical focus areas. 
• Develop, review, and integrate technical documentation, analyses, design materials, program reporting, presentations, papers, and other deliverables. 
• Coordinate milestones, assumptions, dependencies, quality expectations, and risks and present findings, recommendations, and alternatives to appropriate audiences. 
• Provide technical guidance, review, feedback, and mentorship while continuing to deepen mission-aligned expertise. 

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their education, experience, demonstrated technical capabilities, leadership responsibilities, and the scope and complexity of their prior work. 

Level 3 – Associate Staff 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 0+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Solid technical depth in a primary engineering, research, or other technical domain, with the ability to apply knowledge independently. 
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and manage components of project work. 
• Experience contributing to technical documentation, analyses, reports, presentations, or project deliverables. 
• Ability to collaborate across project teams and communicate technical information clearly to appropriate audiences. 
• Emerging ability to guide less experienced colleagues and contribute to team capability development. 

Level 4 – Associate Staff 

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 4+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; a PhD may be considered; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Strong technical depth in a primary domain with emerging breadth across related engineering, research, technical disciplines, or mission areas. 
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and lead components of projects or technical workstreams. 
• Experience managing milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables for assigned project areas. 
• Ability to communicate complex information to varied audiences and collaborate with project teams, sponsors, and internal partners. 
• Demonstrated ability to mentor others, review work, and contribute to team technical capability. 

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• MS degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related degree; BS candidates with additional related experience will be considered
• Experience with sensor development and integration including radar, passive RF receivers, EO/IR cameras, or acoustics
• Hands on experience designing, prototyping, and field-testing air, ground, surface, or underwater vehicles.
• Candidates should have strong skills in the development and presentation of technical materials to varied audiences.
• Candidates should demonstrate strong teamwork skills with the ability to work productively and collaboratively with other team members
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance required