Cyber, RF, Electronic Engineer

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401K

Paid leave

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts is seeking an Assistant Staff to support multidisciplinary research, development, integration, testing, and transition of cyber-electromagnetic warfare prototype capabilities from concept through field evaluation.

As an early-career professional, you will engage with technical staff, sponsors, and partners across government, industry, and academia, applying cyber, RF, EW, AI, and related technologies to national-security challenges and mission

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent experience.
• Experience in cyber, electronic warfare, RF, DSP, software, AI/ML, or systems engineering.
• Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, C++, Java, or similar tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support design, development, data analysis, programming, testing, and documentation of systems or prototypes.
• Apply established practices to complete defined technical tasks.
• Contribute to data collection, documentation, and deliverables for sponsors.
• Learn mission context, standards, and processes; communicate progress and risks.
• Collaborate with colleagues, sponsors, and stakeholders; assist new staff.

Skills

Programming in Python

C++/Java

Strong communication

Analytical thinking

Education

STEM bachelor's degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Linux

MATLAB

Git

Job description

The Cyber-Physical Systems Group develops advanced Cyber-Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities and supports their acquisition, integration, and operational transition across the Department of War and Intelligence Community. The Group conducts research and development at the intersection of cyber operations, electronic warfare, radio-frequency systems, and artificial intelligence to address challenging national-security mission needs.

A central element of the Group’s mission is transitioning advanced technology into operational use. This includes developing and evaluating prototype capabilities; integrating them with other non-kinetic effects; conducting field tests and operational experiments; and supporting larger acquisition, integration, and operationalization programs. The Group collaborates closely with sponsors, operational users, acquisition organizations, and partners across the Laboratory, government, industry, and academia to ensure that technical innovations address real mission needs and can be effectively deployed.

Job Overview

We are seeking an Assistant Staff member to support multidisciplinary research, development, integration, testing, and transition activities. The successful candidate will work with technical staff, program managers, sponsors, operational users, and external partners to help advance prototype capabilities from concept development through field evaluation and operational transition.

This position is well suited for an early-career professional with strong technical aptitude, analytical skills, and an interest in applying cyber, RF, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence, or related technologies to high-impact national-security challenges.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Support the development, integration, and evaluation of advanced cyber-electromagnetic warfare prototype capabilities.
• Assist technical teams conducting research and development in areas such as cyber operations, electronic warfare, RF systems, sensing, signal processing, autonomy, and artificial intelligence.
• Contribute to laboratory, field-test, and operational-experiment planning, execution, data collection, and analysis.
• Develop technical documentation, test plans, reports, briefings, and other materials for internal and sponsor audiences.
• Support the integration of prototype capabilities with operational systems.
• Collaborate with Laboratory colleagues and government, industry, academic, acquisition, and operational partners.
• Help maintain organized, accurate, and secure project records, data products, and configuration-controlled technical materials.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, physics, mathematics, systems engineering, or a related technical discipline; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated technical coursework, project experience, internship experience, or professional experience in one or more relevant areas, such as:
  • Cybersecurity or cyber operations
  • Electronic warfare
  • RF systems, communications, antennas, or radar
  • Digital signal processing
  • Software development
  • Artificial intelligence or machine learning
  • Systems engineering, test, or integration
• Proficiency with at least one programming or technical computing environment, such as Python, MATLAB, C++, Java, or similar tools.
• Ability to analyze technical information, solve problems methodically, and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance required for assigned work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with RF test equipment, software-defined radios, signal analysis tools, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or field experimentation.
• Familiarity with Linux, networking, cloud or edge computing, embedded systems, or secure software-development practices.
• Experience using data-analysis, visualization, simulation, or modeling tools.
• Exposure to Department of War, Intelligence Community, acquisition, operational, or federally funded research environments.
• Experience preparing technical reports, presentations, test documentation, or research publications.
• Existing active U.S. Government security clearance.

The ideal candidate is curious, adaptable, and mission-focused, with an interest in translating technical innovation into practical operational capability. They will be comfortable working across disciplines and engaging with stakeholders who have technical, operational, and acquisition perspectives. The candidate should demonstrate sound judgment, attention to detail, professionalism, and a commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.

Assistant Staff 1/2 Job Overview

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Assistant Staff provide critical support for domain-level 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. As an Assistant Staff member, you will work with multidisciplinary project teams assisting with solutions to complex to moderately complex problems through research and technology development activities. In this highly contributory role, you will develop and grow your understanding of the Laboratory and the work we do for our research sponsors and on behalf of the nation while taking on defined research and technical assignments. Depending on the level, you will complete clearly scoped assignments with guidance or apply established methods with limited oversight while taking greater ownership of defined technical work.

As a successful candidate, you will bring a strong technical foundation, curiosity, and an aptitude for technical growth. You will develop or deepen expertise within a primary technical domain, broaden your awareness of adjacent areas, and support activities such as hardware and software development, systems analysis, data analysis, component fabrication, system integration, testing, and documentation.

Assistant Staff 1/2 Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Support design, development, data analysis, programming, testing, troubleshooting, modeling, simulation, and documentation of systems or prototypes.
• Apply basic or established technical practices, tools, and procedures to complete defined tasks and solve routine technical problems.
• Contribute to data collection, documentation, and component- or subsystem-level deliverables supporting broader research and mission-focused efforts.
• Learn and apply relevant mission context, technical standards, systems, platforms, and project processes.
• Communicate progress, technical results, assumptions, risks, and questions clearly and incorporate feedback into technical work products.
• Depending on level, identify small process improvements and assist new hires, interns, or less experienced staff.

Assistant Staff 1/2 Minimum Qualifications

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

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically, no technical experience or relevant research experience required.
• Foundational understanding of research principles, analytical methods, and structured problem solving.
• Ability to learn and apply technical tools, systems, standards, and procedures within a team environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to document work clearly, ask clarifying questions, and interact respectfully with colleagues, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated collaboration, curiosity, attention to detail, and willingness to receive and apply feedback.
• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Typically, 1+ years of relevant research, engineering, or other technical experience; a Master’s degree may be considered.
• Demonstrated ability to apply concepts and technical methods to routine problems.
• Working knowledge of relevant tools, systems, standards, and documentation practices used in project execution.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks accurately, manage time effectively, and communicate progress and risks.
• Collaborative working style with an emerging ability to support others, contribute to team learning, and interact respectfully with colleagues, sponsors, and other stakeholders.

Assistant Staff 1 Hiring Range:$92,000 - $115,000
Assistant Staff 2 Hiring Range: 100,000 - $128,000
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

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.