UAV/Sensor Development, Prototyping, and Testing-Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Lexington (MA); On-site; USD 145,200 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans

MIT-funded pension

Matching 401(k)

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Work-life balance options

Job summary

MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA, is seeking motivated engineers to develop innovative sensor technologies and uncrewed vehicles. Candidates will work on critical security challenges, engaging in fast-cycle development and prototyping. The role emphasizes teamwork, technical development, and presentations to stakeholders.

Ideal applicants will have a PhD or MS with extensive sensor integration experience, as well as hands-on vehicle prototyping skills. Generous benefits, including health plans, a pension, and 401(k) matching, are offered.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related field; MS candidates with additional related experience will be considered.
• Experience with sensor development and integration including radar, passive RF receivers, EO/IR cameras, or acoustics.
• Hands-on experience designing, prototyping, and field-testing air, ground, surface, or underwater vehicles.
• Strong skills in developing and presenting technical materials to varied audiences.
• Strong teamwork skills with the ability to work productively and collaboratively with other team members.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop new low-cost sensors across RF, EO/IR, acoustic modalities.
• Rapidly develop, integrate, prototype, and test complete systems for U.S. service members.
• Lead teams on customer presentations and demonstrations.

Skills

Sensor development

Hands-on prototyping

Technical presentation

Teamwork

Education

PhD in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related field

MS candidates considered with additional experience

Job description

Date: May 21, 2026

Location: Lexington, MA, US

Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Advanced Capabilities and Systems Group is an agile, innovative, multi-disciplinary team developing novel system and technology concepts that address the nation’s critical security challenges. The Group leverages focused analysis to understand solutions to defense and intelligence problems and then develops the solutions in a fast cycle of experimentation, prototyping, and testing. The Group supports the Army, Air Force, Navy, Special Operations Forces, the Intelligence Community, and other government agencies in a wide variety of prototyping efforts.

Position Description

We are seeking highly motivated engineers to join our team to develop new low-cost sensors across different modalities—RF, EO/IR, acoustic, etc.—as well as electronic attack/protection (EA/EP) systems and uncrewed airborne, surface, and underwater vehicles (UAV/USV/UUV). Successful candidates will work in and lead teams to rapidly develop, integrate, prototype, and test complete systems to be transitioned for use by U.S. service members. Additional responsibilities include customer presentations and demonstrations, team and project management, and staff mentorship.

The Advanced Capabilities & Systems Group works on innovative and fast‑paced sensor development and uncrewed autonomous system programs (such as the Perdix micro UAS) from concept through operational prototype. Technical staff have the opportunity to work closely with service members to develop impactful solutions to some of the government’s most challenging problems.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or related field; MS candidates with additional related experience will be considered.
• Experience with sensor development and integration including radar, passive RF receivers, EO/IR cameras, or acoustics.
• Hands‑on experience designing, prototyping, and field‑testing air, ground, surface, or underwater vehicles.
• Strong skills in developing and presenting technical materials to varied audiences.
• Strong teamwork skills with the ability to work productively and collaboratively with other team members.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.

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.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT‑funded pension
• Matching 401(k)
• 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!

Selecting a candidate will involve 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.

Requisition ID: 42801