Cyber Resilience and Operations Assistant Researcher

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 100,200 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Pension

401K

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Work‑life balance options

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Cyber Operations & Analysis Technology Group seeks an Assistant Staff researcher to analyze, develop, and architect cyber security systems. You will work with a high‑caliber team, applying autonomy and initiative to advance resilient operations for national security.

This role emphasizes opportunities to publish results, lead projects, and grow technically across CS, software engineering, AI, and data science, with access to DoD security clearances and a mission‑driven

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Security, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or related field.
• Ability to work both independently and with interdisciplinary teams on open-ended cyber security problems.
• Proficiency in Python, Rust, or Java.
• Demonstrated interest in cyber security.
• Experience in cyber security, AI, cloud/infrastructure automation, modeling, software engineering, or cyber operations.

Skills

Python

Rust

Java

Cyber security

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Cyber Resilience and Operations Assistant Researcher

Date: Jul 4, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Come and help defend the nation in cyberspace! In the Cyber Operations & Analysis Technology Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, we research challenging technical problems in cyber security, develop new technologies, and prototype first-of-a-kind systems. We have particular focus on enabling human operators and improving operational systems, orienting our work toward strong practical impact.

We work across a variety of cutting‑edge national‑security applications:

• Quantifying risk posed by adversary cyber threats to key national security missions
• Enhancing the cyber security and resilience of critical infrastructure and other operational technology
• Protecting and defending U.S. weapon systems in cyber contested environments
• Helping the nation's cyber operators do their jobs better, faster, and at greater scale
• Creating game‑changing capabilities for defensive cyberspace operations

As an interdisciplinary group, we innovate by drawing insights from computer science, software engineering, data engineering, data science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, and allied technical fields. We collaborate with research partners across MIT, offering frequent opportunities to team and learn in new areas. If you want a career in R&D with the opportunity to have real impact on important problems, join us!

Job Description

As an Assistant Staff member in the Cyber Operations & Analysis Technology Group, you will perform analysis, develop technology, and/or architect and build software for the next generation of operational cyber security systems. You will collaborate with a highly motivated and skilled research team, but be expected to act with considerable autonomy and independence. You will apply your technical skill to improve cyber security and resilience of national security systems and equip the nation's cyber operators to defend against persistent, intelligent adversaries. You will have many opportunities to develop your skills as a researcher, including in technical execution, project leadership, and sharing results with the community through publications and presentations.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Security, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or related field
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively on difficult, open‑ended problems in cyber security and defense with interdisciplinary technical teams
• Motivation to identify underlying technical problems and proactively pursue viable solutions
• Proficiency in modern programming languages such as Python, Rust, or Java
• Demonstrated interest in cyber security
• Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following, with research experience especially valued (classes, extracurriculars, mentoring, etc.):
  • Cyber security
  • Generative and agentic AI
  • Cloud and infrastructure automation (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, etc.)
  • Mathematical or statistical modeling and problem-solving
  • Software engineering
  • United States military operations, especially cyberspace operations

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.

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 more

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: 42879