The Homeland Decision Support Systems Group focuses on end-to-end system architectures design, decision support, and advanced analytics to enhance the protection of the homeland and U.S. interests overseas. In collaboration with industry and academia, we are working at the frontiers of AI to develop and integrate advanced decision support prototypes that can address national security needs in the land, sea, air, and space domains. We have deployed real-time enterprise and edge solutions that support the warfighters at multiple Combatant Commands across the globe, providing a measurable impact to their missions. Our technical expertise spans deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, graph theory, big data architectures, operations research, and system autonomy. Our goal is to enhance national security by leading the nation in developing and deploying advanced decision support systems utilizing cutting edge AI and machine learning technologies. 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.
Additional Job Overview Details
Our group is seeking highly motivated entry level scientists, data analysts and engineers who are interested in solving challenging technical problems that make a difference in the real world. Typical activities for our analysts include data analysis, modeling and algorithm development while working as part of an interdisciplinary team. In this role, the candidate will help to develop/implement techniques for analysis of varied data sets, implement leading edge data processing and algorithms from academia, and work within our team to develop concepts that address national security challenges. The candidate will work with an experienced team to learn about the homeland protection mission and to develop a career path matching their technical interests.
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.
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.
Level 1 – Assistant Staff
- 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.
Level 2 – Assistant Staff
- 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
- Data analysis skills, including: exploratory analysis, clean, organize, analyze to extract information, find trends/anomalies, synthesize/visualize results
- Basic statistical and mathematical data manipulation knowledge
- Proficient with MATLAB, Python, or similar programming language
- Willing to acquire new skills
- Attention to detail and ability to manage priorities
- Ability to develop, implement, test and evaluate novel algorithms and concepts
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong presentation skills a plus
- Working well in a multi-disciplinary team environment
- Experience with large, complex multidimensional data handling a plus
- Experience with software development and source control management tools like GitHub a plus
- Experience working with various computer OS (Windows/Linux/Unix) a plus
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
- 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 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: 43563