Tracking and Controls Engineer-Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory•Lexington, MA

2d•$140,000 - $207,000

About The Position

The Optical/Quantum Communications Technology Group seeks a full-time Technical Staff member to contribute to the design, analysis, development, testing, and integration of optical communications systems for laser communication prototype systems in challenging channels, including atmospheric and undersea environments. The role focuses on developing pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems for space and ground terminals. The successful candidate will work closely with engineers across optical, mechanical, and software disciplines to implement technologies and achieve performance targets in field demonstrations. The role requires a strong background in controls and systems analysis. Understanding atmospheric effects and turbulence, and experience with adaptive optics or tracking technologies, are highly desired. The Technical Staff member will lead complex technical efforts, translate broad objectives into executable plans, guide multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to research and prototype development supporting the Laboratory’s national security mission. Responsibilities may include sponsor and mission-partner briefings, program documentation, proposals, technical roadmaps, and mentoring technical staff.

Requirements

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 5).
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 (Level 6).
Diverse 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.
Demonstrated 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.
Demonstrated experience with controls systems, particularly adaptive optics or tracking.
Demonstrated experience with systems analysis and modeling, particularly understanding and analyzing atmospheric turbulence effects.
Experience with integration and test, including troubleshooting complex problems.
Experience with MATLAB or other analysis tools relevant to systems analysis.
Experience with free-space optical communications hardware.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Willingness to work in a team environment.
Selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of atmospheric effects and turbulence.
Experience with adaptive optics or tracking technologies.

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.
Contribute to the design, analysis, development, testing, and integration of optical communications systems and prototype hardware.
Develop pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems for space and ground terminals.
Work with optical, mechanical, and software disciplines to implement technologies for fielded demonstrations.