UAV​/Sensor Development, Prototyping, and Testing-Assistant

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

Date: Mar 24, 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.

The Group consists of talented technical staff with expertise in electromagnetics, signal processing, radio frequency systems, antenna design, acoustics, EO/IR imaging, statistics, optimization, machine learning, UAS development, autonomous control, flight testing, software engineering, and embedded systems.

The Advanced Capabilities & Systems Group is seeking highly motivated engineers to join our team to develop new low‑cost sensors across different modalities (RF, EO/IR, acoustic, etc.), electronic attack/protections (EA/EP) systems, and uncrewed airborne/surface/underwater vehicles (UAV/USV/UUV). Successful candidates will work in teams to rapidly develop, integrate, prototype, and test complete systems to be transitioned for use by U.S. service members.

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.

• Develop low‑cost sensors across modalities (RF, EO/IR, acoustic, etc.)
• Design electronic attack/protection (EA/EP) systems
• Prototype uncrewed airborne, surface, and underwater vehicles (UAV/USV/UUV)
• Rapidly develop, integrate, prototype, and test complete systems for transition to U.S. service members
• Work closely with service members to deliver impactful solutions

• BS degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or a related field
• 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 the development and presentation of 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 (required)

Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $100,200 - $120,000

Experienced Hiring Range: $100,200 - $150,000

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.

• 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.

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