Robotics and Autonomy-Assistant Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 92,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401K

Paid leave

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory seeks an Assistant Staff to support multidisciplinary research and prototyping in autonomy and robotic systems for national security. You will contribute to design, development, data analysis, testing, and documentation across hardware and software domains in a fast-paced mission-driven environment.

The role emphasizes collaboration, growth, and hands-on work with autonomy stacks, sensing, localization, and control on DoD-relevant platforms, with opportunities to advance

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent technical experience.
• 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.

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.

Skills

C++

Robotics software

State estimation

Computer vision

Multi-agent RL

ROS/ROS2

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

Python

Linux

ROS/ROS2

Job description

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The Tactical Autonomy Group develops and delivers AI-enabled autonomy and robotic systems where it counts - at the tactical edge. As an FFRDC, we combine academic depth in algorithms, controls, and machine learning; the execution speed of a start-up, and direct mission pull from operational end-users to solve problems others can’t. We don’t stop at papers: we design, build, integrate, field-test, and transition autonomy stacks for individual platforms and coordinated robot teams - spanning multimodal sensing, localization, distributed decision-making, adaptive learning, and vehicle control - into real operations across the DoW and Intelligence Community.

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.

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.

Exceptional Candidates may also have one or more of:

• Strong C++ skills, particularly for robotics software development.
• Direct exposure to advanced controls topics (e.g. optimal control).
• Experience with GPS denied navigation and modern state-estimation techniques for robotic systems
• Experience applying computer-vision methods and tools—including object detection, segmentation, 3D reconstruction, neural radiance fields and Gaussian splatting on robotic hardware platforms.
• Experience with multi-agent reinforcement learning, stochastic games, or adversarial and robust learning
• Demonstrated experience integrating, debugging, and validating autonomy algorithms and software on field-tested robotic platforms.
• Active DoD SECRET security clearance and ability to obtain TOP SECRET

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.

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• Strong programming skills in Python and experience developing software in Linux environments.
• Experience developing software with ROS/ROS2.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to coherently convey complex technical details.
• Prior internship experience within the field of robotics or autonomous systems.

Hiring Range: $92,000 - $115,000

Hiring Range 2: $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.