Systems Engineer-Technical Staff

The Systems Engineering group provides engineering leadership and core systems engineering functions to ensure that complex prototype system elements work together to meet critical national security mission objectives. We support space, airborne, and ground-based systems for sensing, imaging, communication and other applications. Our prototypes are on ground systems and on orbit, on large satellites and small CubeSats, flying on manned and unmanned aircraft, collecting data about stars, exoplanets, weather and other phenomena of interest.

We are part of high-performing, cross-disciplinary project teams that work across the entire project life-cycle, from trade studies, concept and architecture design to assembly, integration, field or flight testing and operation. Staff members have broad expertise across multiple scientific and engineering disciplines including systems, aerospace, mechanical, electrical and software engineering.

Position Description

The selected candidate will lead a team performing systems engineering activities for a large program. Responsibilities include developing, flowing down and tracking requirements, architecting systems, developing an MBSE model of the systems and their interfaces, planning and leading verification and validation activities, and identifying risks and defining risk mitigation strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

• A PhD in Physics, Mechanical, Electrical, Aero/Astro, Software Engineering with systems engineering for space or airborne systems preferred, or in lieu of a PhD, an MS degree and 5 years of relevant experience


• The ability to support a full range of systems engineering activities for multiple programs


• The ability to use a systems perspective to identify needed technology development efforts


• Demonstrated experience leading multi-disciplinary teams


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce and present professional written reports and presentations


• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools is strongly preferred.


• Experience with integration of hardware and software is helpful

Occasional travel may be required.

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 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: 42691