Communications & Networks Systems Analysis and Design Engineer-Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 145,200 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health plans

MIT‑funded pension

401K matching

Paid leave including vacation and sick

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA, is seeking a Communications & Networks Systems Analysis and Design Engineer – Technical Staff to shape next‑generation DoW communications and networking capabilities. You will conduct system‑level analyses, identify gaps, and implement novel algorithms across network layers, collaborating with sponsors, academia, and industry.

You will work on state‑of‑the‑art systems for surface, airborne, and space platforms, applying modeling, simulation, emulation,

Qualifications

• PhD in EE/CS/Math/Physics or MS with 5+ years experience.
• Strong background in wireless communications and signal processing.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, C/C++, VHDL and/or embedded systems programming.
• Proficiency with Linux or real‑time OS.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to work in multi‑disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Perform systems analysis to identify capability gaps and inform new concepts.
• Design, develop, implement and assess state‑of‑the‑art systems for communications and networking.
• Design, develop, simulate and prototype novel communications and networking algorithms.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to prototype hardware and software for surface, airborne and space platforms.
• Develop laboratory experiments with ground, airborne, and space systems with hardware‑in‑the‑loop.
• Analyze data from field and lab experiments and interpret results.
• Prepare technical docs, publications, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Mentor colleagues and contribute to outreach in technical communities.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

VHDL

Embedded systems programming

Linux

Written and verbal communication

Team collaboration

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics (or related field) or MS with 5+ years experience

Job description

Date: Jun 13, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Position: Communications & Networks Systems Analysis and Design Engineer – Technical Staff

How do we ensure critical data gets where it’s needed—when it’s needed—across Department of War (DoW) space, air, and surface platforms operating over vast distances? Our team works at the forefront of this challenge, developing advanced technologies, algorithms, and architectures that enable resilient, interoperable communications for the joint force. As part of the Communications Networks and Analysis group, you’ll develop and apply expertise in emerging line‑of‑sight and beyond‑line‑of‑sight communications systems and software defined networking technologies to design and build robust connectivity solutions for users operating in congested and contested environments. Your work will directly improve the resilience and capacity of real‑world communications systems and help integrate them seamlessly across platforms and domains.

We take ideas from concept to reality through hands‑on technical analysis, modeling, simulation, emulation, prototype development, and flight testing—giving you the opportunity to see your designs built, evaluated, and deployed to make a tangible impact.

Position Description

The Communications and Networks Systems Analysis and Design Engineer plays a key role in shaping next‑generation communications and networking capabilities for the DoW. In this role, you will conduct system‑level analyses to identify capability gaps and explore new approaches to resilient, high‑performance communications. You will help close these gaps by designing and implementing novel systems, algorithms, and protocols across all layers of the network stack.

You’ll work as part of highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams that bring together expertise in systems analysis, communications theory, networking, information assurance, systems engineering, RF, and digital hardware and software. This position offers hands‑on opportunities to take ideas from concept through implementation and evaluation, and to collaborate with government sponsors, academic partners, and industry leaders. Your contributions will directly influence the design, development, and fielding of future DoW communications capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform systems analysis to identify capability gaps, evaluate design tradeoffs, and inform new communications and networking concepts
• Design, develop, implement and assess state‑of‑the‑art systems for communications and networking
• Design, develop, simulate and prototype novel communications and networking algorithms
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to design and prototype communications and networking hardware and software for surface, airborne and space platforms
• Develop and design laboratory experiments that include ground, airborne, and space systems with hardware‑in‑the‑loop
• Collect, analyze and interpret complex data sets from field and laboratory experiments
• Prepare technical documentation, including refereed publications, reports, and as well as technical presentations for multiple internal and external audiences
• Share new ideas and intuitions with your colleagues, collaborators and others in our technical communities through mentorship, education, and outreach opportunities

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics (or related field) with a strong background in wireless communications and signal processing. In lieu of a PhD, an M.S. with 5+ years of directly relevant experience is acceptable.
• Experience and/or coursework in systems analysis, optimization, wireless communications theory, data networks, digital signal processing, estimation and detection, optimization, radio frequency propagation modeling, linear algebra.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, C or C++, VHDL and/or embedded systems programming
• Proficiency with Linux or commercial real‑time operating systems
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multi‑disciplinary teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Software Defined Networking hardware and software
• Cloud network technologies and protocols
• Adaptive filtering, digital signal processing, media access control protocols, and machine learning
• Fixed‑point algorithm design and implementation targeting embedded processors such as FPGA, GPU, DSP
• Antennas, arrays and RF circuits
• Software Defined Radio
• Demonstrated ability to plan and manage tasks and projects.

Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $145,200 - $170,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $145,200 - $220,000

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.

Benefits

• 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

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: 43000