Optical Comm Researcher-Technical Staff

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

MIT-funded pension

401K

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA seeks an Optical Comm Researcher-Technical Staff to join the Advanced Lasercom Systems and Operations Group. The role blends hands-on hardware work with system analysis, modeling, and testbed development for free-space laser communications.

You will contribute to prototype design, alignment, data analysis, and documentation, collaborating with experts while primarily on-site with some remote tasks.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in physics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering or related field with significant optics/lasers coursework or experience.
• At least 5 years of related experience post undergraduate degree (can include graduate school).
• Familiarity with optics/photonics/laser or related lab environments and standard lab equipment such as real-time scopes and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with data analysis and clear visualization of laboratory results; MATLAB or Python experience.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to system conceptual design, analysis, and modeling of laser communication systems.
• Perform optical alignment, testing, and verification of components and subsystems.
• Analyze data, document results, and present findings to the team.
• Collaborate with experts across opto-mechanics, optics, and electronics to improve processes.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Data analysis

Strong communication

Teamwork

Education

Advanced degree in optics/related field

Ph.D. in physics/engineering

Tools

Interferometers

Autocollimators

Laboratory instruments

Job description

Optical Comm Researcher-Technical Staff

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the Department of Defense and operated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. FFRDCs are not-for-profit organizations tasked with assisting the U.S. government with scientific research and analysis, systems development, and systems acquisition to provide novel, cost-effective solutions to complex government problems.

The Laser Communications Group designs, prototypes, analyzes, and tests free-space laser communications systems suitable for a variety of government platforms and environments. Additionally, our research team develops techniques to mitigate fluctuations in signal power caused by turbulence and to lessen wavefront distortions. We perform atmospheric modeling and simulation, and build accurate acquisition, tracking, and pointing subsystems to support highly directional, low-probability-of-intercept communication links. Major efforts include the demonstration of a low-cost, high-performance airborne laser communications terminal, and development of the nation's leading independent lasercom interoperability testing facility. We also provide subject matter expertise to the US government on all aspects of laser communications.

Position Description

The Advanced Lasercom Systems and Operations Group seeks a highly motivated, full time technical staff member to join a multi-disciplinary team focused on laser communication systems. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to be a part of one of the world's leading laser communications groups, playing key roles in developing unique prototypes and test assets. The candidate will work with other personnel as needed, but will have the ability to work independently, coordinating with team members with complementary skills. Because of the hands-on nature of the work, this job will be primarily on-site, although exceptions may be authorized when performing tasks that can be effectively performed remotely, such as design, documentation, component research/specification/ordering, modeling and analysis.

We are seeking candidates who have some experience working with laser communications hardware, optical hardware, and/or communications systems related test equipment, or have exposure to communications and/or optical design/modeling tools. The candidate should enjoy working in collaborative teams to find creative solutions, and be eager to learn and contribute.

The candidate will grow into their career working on a broad range of laser communications problems, including (but not limited to) system conceptual design; systems analysis and modeling; component selection and verification; optical system alignment and testing; data analysis; testbed design and verification; fiber optic system optimization and debugging; high-fidelity hardware builds; free-space optics system optimization and debugging; data analysis; as well as documentation and presentation of designs, specifications, laser safety plans, test procedures, and test results.

Working as part of a lasercom team offers growth opportunities, as the candidate will be interacting regularly with subject matter experts in laser communications, pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) of laser beams, opto-mechanics, optics, and electronics. As a member of the team, the candidate will be encouraged to look for ways to improve the efficiency of our processes and testing, and to help other members of the team with miscellaneous tasks such as hardware reconfiguration and troubleshooting.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree in physics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering or a related field with significant coursework or experience in optics, lasers, and/or communications systems
  • At least 5 years of related experience post undergraduate degree (can include graduate school)
• Familiarity working in a research and development focused laboratory environment involving optics/photonics/laser or related work
• Familiarity with standard laboratory equipment, such as real-time scopes, sampling oscilloscopes, optical modulation analyzers, and optical and rf spectrum analyzers
• Familiarity with free-space optical alignment and characterization instrumentation such as interferometers, autocollimators, alignment telescopes, theodolites, profilometers, wavefront sensors, and high-speed infrared cameras / focal plane arrays.
• Experience with data analysis and clear visualization of laboratory results
• Experience with MATLAB or Python
• Experience presenting results in a professional setting
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to work well in a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, optical engineering or a related field with significant coursework or experience in optics, lasers, and/or communications systems
• Familiarity working in a laboratory environment with laser communications hardware or components, and has familiarity with fiber optic test equipment and components
• Experience with systems analysis trades between rf and optical communications, and performing architecture studies based on state-of-the-art technology
• Familiarity with communications systems including capacity limits, modulation formats, receiver techniques (incoherent and coherent), and digital signal processing techniques
• Familiarity with some subset of the following disciplines is advantageous but not required:
  • Stray light modeling / FRED software
  • Integration & test
  • Test automation
  • Optical test equipment
  • Communications system fundamentalsOptical communications simulation software
  • Numerical simulation and analysis tools
  • Scripting languages
  • Atmospheric science

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.

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 much more!

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and will obtain and maintain a Secret clearance to start but must be willing and able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance with compartmented program eligibility in the future.

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: 42840

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