Associate Underwater Sensors Engineer

MITRE; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE in McLean, VA seeks early-career engineers to advance maritime capabilities for national security priorities. You will work with senior engineers across signal processing, data analysis, rapid prototyping, and field testing of underwater sensors and acoustic systems.

The ideal candidate has foundations in applied math, physics, and engineering, with coursework or projects in signal processing, sensing, or communications.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field
• Typically requires less than 1 year of related experience with a related bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of related education and work experience
• Proactive self-starter with strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong foundation in applied mathematics, physics, and engineering demonstrated through coursework, research, internships, or projects
• Ability to apply quantitative methods to engineering problems in signal processing, wave propagation, modeling and simulation, or prototype development
• Experience using MATLAB or Python for modeling, simulation, and analysis of physical systems
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government clearance (U.S. citizen)
• Minimum on-site presence: 3 days per week

Responsibilities

• Contribute to design, development, and evaluation of signal processing algorithms for underwater sensing and acoustic systems
• Model acoustic propagation and sensor performance using physics-based and empirical methods
• Rapidly prototype sensors and embedded underwater systems from concept to field-ready integration
• Assist in planning field tests and evaluations, and analyze results for sponsors
• Contribute to transducer and acoustic sensor design for small autonomous underwater systems
• Analyze multi-dimensional maritime datasets to inform technical recommendations
• Support sponsor engagement by communicating findings and shaping research directions
• Collaborate across sonar analysis, wave propagation, and acoustic sensing domains

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

BS/MS in engineering or related field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Job Description:

We are seeking early-career engineers to help advance maritime capabilities that address critical government mission needs in support of national maritime public sector and defense priorities. You will work with senior engineers across modeling and simulation, data analysis, rapid prototyping, system integration, laboratory evaluation, and field testing of maritime sensors and acoustic communication systems. The ideal candidate has strong foundations in applied mathematics, physics, and engineering and enjoys solving open-ended technical problems. Relevant academic, research, or project experience may include signal processing, detection and estimation, communications, sensing, wave propagation, modeling and simulation, or software and hardware prototyping.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the design, development, and evaluation of signal processing algorithms for underwater sensing and acoustic communication systems
• Conduct physics-based and empirical modeling of acoustic propagation and undersea sensor system performance
• Rapidly prototype sensors, communication platforms, and embedded underwater systems, advancing hardware from concept through field-ready integration
• Assist in planning and executing field testing and BlueTech Lab evaluations, analyzing test results and contributing to actionable findings for government sponsors
• Contribute to the design of transducers and acoustic sensors for small form-factor and autonomous underwater system applications
• Analyze complex, multi-dimensional maritime datasets and contribute to defensible technical recommendations
• Support sponsor engagement by communicating technical findings, shaping research directions, and responding to emerging mission needs
• Collaborate across department technical domains including sonar analysis, multi-domain wave propagation, and acoustic communication and sensing

Basic Qualifications:

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or related field
• Typically requires less than 1 year of related experience with a related bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of related education and work experience
• Proactive self-starter with strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong foundation in applied mathematics, physics, and engineering, demonstrated through relevant coursework, research, internships, or technical projects
• Ability to apply quantitative methods to challenging engineering problems in one or more relevant areas, such as signal processing for acoustic, sonar, radar, or communication systems; algorithm development; detection and estimation; wave propagation; numerical methods; modeling and simulation; experimental data analysis; or prototype development and test
• Experience using analytical software tools such as MATLAB or Python for modeling, simulation, and analysis of physical systems
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance
• Coursework, research, internship, or project experience in one or more underwater-domain areas, such as underwater acoustics, sonar signal processing, acoustic communications, acoustic propagation modeling, or transducer and acoustic sensor development
• Experience developing or integrating sensor, communication, or embedded-system prototypes through coursework, research, internships, or technical projects
• Experience participating in laboratory or field tests of sensors, communication systems, or related technologies, particularly in maritime applications

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$89,200 - $111,500 - $133,800 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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