Assistant Staff - Signal Processing & Software Engineer

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision

MIT-funded pension

401K matching

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Work-life balance

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory seeks a digital signal processing engineer to join Group 94, Electronics for Contested Space, to model, analyze, prototype, and demonstrate resilient space system concepts with multidisciplinary teams. You will work on real-world experiments across terrestrial and space domains.

The role favors self-driven, clear communicators who thrive in interdisciplinary settings and are eager to learn across multiple technology areas. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or a similar technical field.
• Technical degree with 3+ years of relevant experience also considered.
• Experience with digital signal processing techniques and algorithms.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Rust, Java, or another system-level language.
• Interest/experience in radar, remote sensing, electronics, control of autonomous systems, or space systems.

Responsibilities

• Model, analyze, prototype, and demonstrate innovative concepts using real-world experiments.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers.
• Communicate technical content clearly to diverse audiences.
• Travel occasionally for field exercises, sponsor presentations, and events.

Skills

Digital signal processing

C/C++

Rust

Java

Python

MATLAB

Remote sensing

Radar systems

Linux

Container tech

CI/CD tools

GitHub Actions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

Linux

Docker

Kubernetes

GitHub Actions

Jenkins

CI/CD

Job description

Assistant Staff - Signal Processing & Software Engineer

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Electronics for Contested Space Group develops advanced electronic systems and technology for the protection of our Nation's most important space capabilities. We design and develop state-of-the-art satellites and satellite payloads, novel concepts for resilient space architectures, and the Nation's most sensitive radars, optics, and passive RF systems. The group also provides engineering rigor and experience to some of the most critical National Security programs through Laboratory-wide collaboration and acts in an advisory capacity to the U.S. Government. Recently we have prototyped electronic systems and effects, conducted hardware-in-the-loop testing of tactically relevant payloads with surrogate threat systems, developed RF subsystems for satellites, and analyzed spacecraft mission dynamics, environments, and resiliency.

Job Description

Group 94, Electronics for Contested Space, is seeking a digital signal processing engineer to assist multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers in developing the next generation of resilient space systems. Alongside world-class experts, you will model, analyze, prototype, and demonstrate innovative concepts using real-world experiments across the terrestrial and space domains.

An ideal candidate is a self-driven contributor, an effective communicator of technical content to all audiences, and an effective member of an interdisciplinary team. Broad experience in multiple technology areas and applications will make a candidate for this role stand out.

Occasional travel to support field exercises, presentations to sponsors and the community, and other events may be required.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, or a similar technical field
  • A technical Degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience will be also be considered
• Experience with digital signal processing techniques and algorithms
• Software engineering experience with demonstrated proficiency in C/C++, Rust, Java, or another system-level programming language, with a focus on developing secure, scalable, and maintainable systems.
• Professional or academic experience in at least one of the following areas, and some familiarity and career interest in several others:
  • Radar systems: including radar system design, evaluation and analysis
  • Remote sensing: passive/active RF and optical systems analysis, simulation, high-level design
  • Electronics: analog / digital signal processing, prototype test development and execution
  • Control of autonomous systems: state estimation, instrument modeling, navigation, remote, unattended operation
  • Mechanical and materials: harsh environments, novel mechanisms, surface interactions
  • Physics: classical electromagnetics, plasmas, optics, ionizing radiation
  • Systems engineering: integrated modeling, interface management, concept development
  • Space systems: vehicle design, environment analysis, performance estimation, risk assessment
• Demonstrable ability to:
  • Work responsibly and safely in laboratory and assembly environments
  • Develop respectful, productive working relationships
  • Communicate clearly, precisely, and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences
  • Solve broad and/or complex technical or engineering problems
  • Learn and apply advanced technical knowledge quickly and proficiently
• Analytical and/or scientific programming proficiency and experience applying to solve real technical problems (e.g. MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar)

Desired Skills

• Active Top Secret Security Clearance highly desired
• Ability to develop code and operate in a Linux computing environment
• Familiarity with container technologies and container orchestration tools
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions) and security integration tools.
• Experience developing software in alignment with cybersecurity requirements, including secure coding practices, vulnerability mitigation, and compliance with security standards.
• Experience analyzing large datasets in MATLAB, Python, R, or C/C++

Recent Graduate Hiring Range:$100,200-$120,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $100,200-$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 Top 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:43288

Nearest Major Market: Boston

Job Segment: Test Engineer, Software Engineer, Lab Assistant, Testing, Electronics Engineer, Engineering, Science, Technology