NC3 Systems Analyst-Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory•Lexington, MA

1d•$140,000 - $207,000

About The Position

MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Strategic and Long-Range Communications Group develops system concepts and techniques for critical U.S. Government communications needs, with expertise in RF communications across ground, sea, air, and space domains. The Group researches, develops, characterizes, and demonstrates capabilities for assured global connectivity despite adversary interference and interception threats. The role develops and analyzes communications solutions for U.S. Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3). Work includes communications systems research, NC3 system-of-systems analysis, and communications link simulation. Technical Staff lead complex technical efforts and may lead projects, major workstreams, complex programs, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios according to their level. They apply deep technical expertise and judgment, translate broad strategy into research or execution deliverables, and integrate expertise across disciplines to achieve mission outcomes. Candidates will be considered at Level 5 or Level 6 based on education, experience, demonstrated technical expertise, leadership responsibilities, and the scale and complexity of efforts led. The selected candidate must undergo a pre-employment background investigation and be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with compartmented program eligibility. U.S. citizenship is required.

Requirements

Level 5: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 6 or more years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree and typically 4 or more years; or a PhD and typically 0 or more years; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Level 6: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 8 or more years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree and typically 6 or more years; or a PhD and typically 2 or more years; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Technical expertise and the ability to adapt it to unfamiliar or emerging disciplines, systems, mission areas, or methods.
Ability to apply significant technical judgment to broad challenges requiring integration across related systems or methods.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects or major workstreams and deliver complex technical outcomes; for Level 6, proven experience leading complex programs, significant program elements, or multi-team technical efforts.
Experience evaluating trade-offs, recommending paths forward, and adapting technical approaches to evolving project needs.
Ability to manage technical ambiguity and influence decisions across teams or stakeholder groups.
Mentorship, collaboration, and ability to communicate recommendations, risks, and technical findings to varied audiences.
Experience contributing to technical reports, papers, presentations, proposals, or other formal technical deliverables.
Relevant field background and strong motivation to apply skills to communications problems.
Highly effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team and set priorities.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with compartmented program eligibility.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with or analyzing the system-of-systems that makes up U.S. NC3.
Experience using MATLAB, Python, or a similar numerical analysis tool.
Experience with communications systems, information theory, and/or detection and estimation theory.

Responsibilities

Lead projects, complex programs, major technical workstreams, multi-program initiatives, or technical portfolios involving multidisciplinary development, analysis, prototyping, integration, testing, evaluation, and technology transition.
Apply technical expertise and systems-level judgment to complex and ambiguous problems, evaluating alternatives, trade-offs, risks, stakeholder needs, and mission implications.
Translate broad or unclear objectives into actionable technical plans and influence program direction, architectures, systems, priorities, and roadmaps.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, sponsors, mission partners, and internal leaders to align priorities, resolve dependencies, and guide decisions and deliverables.
Assess and improve technical tools, processes, methods, documentation, execution practices, and organizational capability.
Serve as a technical resource and mentor by reviewing work, framing trade-offs and risks, and developing staff and emerging leaders.
Contribute to papers, reports, presentations, proposals, grants, roadmaps, and other materials that advance mission outcomes and technical direction.
Develop novel ideas for NC3 communications technologies.
Perform communications systems analysis of algorithms, protocols, and approaches, primarily at the physical, link, and network layers.
Analyze RF communications systems scenarios and identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Perform link budget calculations and account for environmental characteristics that affect performance.