Engineering Specialist (I)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Pension

401K matching

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking an Engineering Specialist (I) to support the development, integration, testing, and sustained operation of advanced sensor prototypes and experimental systems.

You will fabricate mechanical and electronic hardware, develop reusable test fixtures, and prepare systems for lab and field testing while troubleshooting and improving workflows.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical training in Engineering, Electronics, Physics or related field; Bachelor's preferred.
• At least 2 years of hands-on lab or hardware‑integration experience.
• Experience assembling, modifying, and troubleshooting lab hardware.
• Experience developing or maintaining test fixtures or lab infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate and assemble experimental hardware and fixtures.
• Soldering, cable fabrication, connectors, and basic electronics troubleshooting.
• Prepare hardware and data-acquisition systems for lab and field testing; document configurations.
• Troubleshoot hardware/instrumentation and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain organized labs, calibration, inventory, and test readiness.
• Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and technicians throughout prototype development.

Skills

Laboratory hardware

Soldering

Electrical troubleshooting

Documentation

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Data Acquisition Systems

LabVIEW

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Job description

The Advanced Quantum Technologies Group (98) focuses on accelerating quantum computing and quantum sensing using ion and solid-state platforms. Core areas of the Group include fundamental quantum science to guide next-generation advances, quantum devices (ion computing testbeds, precision clocks, magnetometers, and other sensors), and systems enabled by quantum devices, such as magnetic-assisted navigation and magnetic microscopy for microelectronics diagnostics.

Job Description

The Advanced Quantum Technologies Group seeks a motivated, detail-oriented Engineering Specialist (I) to support the development, integration, testing, and sustained operation of advanced sensor prototypes and experimental systems. This position combines laboratory hardware development, test infrastructure development, experimental support, and laboratory operations. Responsibilities will include participation in the fabricating of mechanical and electronic hardware, developing and maintaining reusable test fixtures and experimental setups, preparing systems for laboratory and field testing, troubleshooting hardware and instrumentation, and improving laboratory workflows

Major Responsibilities

Applicants should have a broad skillset and strong desire to work on a wide variety of hands‑on laboratory and engineering tasks. Typical responsibilities include:

• Familiarity with the fabrication, assembly, or modification of experimental hardware, mechanical fixtures, and supporting electronics.
• Familiarity with soldering, cable fabrication, connectorization, electronics assembly, and mechanical fabrication using appropriate laboratory and machine-shop tools and utilize appropriate Laboratory personnel when necessary
• Familiarity with building, documenting, and maintaining reusable fixtures and experimental setups to facilitate recurring hardware characterization or fabrication and identifying appropriate Laboratory personnel, if any, to include in such tasks.
• Maintain clear identification and configuration control of fixtures, cables, adapters, instrumentation accessories, and related test hardware.
• Prepare hardware, instrumentation, fixtures, and data‑acquisition systems for laboratory and field testing; perform readiness checks as needed.
• Execute tests, collect data, and document hardware configurations, instrument settings, calibration information, procedures, observations, and results.
• In coordination with other appropriate Laboratory personnel, troubleshoot hardware, instrumentation, and integration issues; identify root causes and implement practical corrective actions.
• Maintain laboratories in an organized and test‑ready condition, including equipment calibration, inventory, and purchasing support.
• Help convert successful one‑off experimental setups into robust, repeatable laboratory capabilities that can be efficiently used by multiple team members.
• Work with multidisciplinary engineering and science teams and Laboratory technicians throughout prototype development, integration, testing, and field demonstrations.

Requirements

• Associate's degree, technical certification, military technical training, or equivalent technical training in Engineering, Electronics, Physics, or related field; Bachelor's degree preferred
• At least 2 years of relevant hands‑on laboratory, prototype‑development, hardware‑integration, or technical engineering experience
• Demonstrated experience independently assembling, modifying, integrating, and troubleshooting laboratory or prototype hardware
• Experience developing or maintaining test fixtures, experimental setups, or laboratory test infrastructure
• Demonstrated experience with electronics assembly, soldering, cable fabrication, connectors, and basic electrical troubleshooting
• Familiarity with hand and power tools
• Ability to develop, follow, and improve technical procedures and documentation standards
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain shared hardware, test equipment, and laboratory resources in a structured, readily usable manner.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with engineers, scientists, technicians, and other technical staff

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing and fabricating custom laboratory fixtures, mechanical assemblies, and experimental hardware
• Experience developing repeatable test stations or reusable experimental setups
• Experience with data‑acquisition systems, instrumentation control, or laboratory automation software
• Experience with RF/microwave, low‑noise electronics, magnetic measurements, optical systems, vacuum systems, or precision instrumentation
• Familiarity with machining and machine shop tools including, but not limited to: mill, lathe, others

This position requires regular hands‑on work in a laboratory setting, including standing for extended periods, lifting equipment, and working with tools and machinery. Adherence to safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.

Hiring Range:$89,400-$123,400

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.