Prototype Engineer

MIT Lincoln Laboratory•Lexington, MA

1d•$100,200 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Our prototyping team is seeking highly motivated engineers who are interested in solving challenging technical problems and helping to build advanced technologies for high impact missions with Department of Homeland Protection (DHS) and Department of War (DoW) mission sets. This position is to support the research, design, and prototype of autonomous systems ranging from concept development through operational deployment including modelling and simulation, system design and construction, guidance and planning, feedback control and state estimation, computer vision, machine learning/AI, and field/flight testing where applicable. The candidate will work in a team-oriented development environment working on fast-paced development goals. The candidate should be willing to work on-site in the office 3 or more days a week, due to the hardware-focused development, and occasionally in outdoor test environments. Additionally, the candidate should be willing to travel up to ~15% of the time to support field tests and visits to Government sponsor organizations.

Requirements

B.S. or B.A. degree in Engineering, Robotics, Physics, or a related field with dedicated coursework in robotics, control theory, and programming.
Controls/robotics or autonomy-related background
Prototyping experience
Strong written and oral communication skills
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with unmanned aerial systems (UAS) hardware and software (e.g. PX4, Ardupilot, Betaflight)
Familiarity with UAS communication protocols
Analytical and/or scientific programming proficiency (Python, C/C++ or similar)
Test design, procedure development, and execution
Basic understanding of state estimation concepts
System-level design, system architecture, or trade studies
Direct exposure to advanced controls topics (e.g. optimal control)
Relevant work experience (including internships, co-ops) is highly desired.
Low-level communication protocols (such as SPI, I2C, UART)
UxS (unmanned systems, such as drones, rovers, etc.) development or testing
Experience with GPS-denied navigation and modern state estimation techniques
Low-level drivers and firmware design for use in microcontrollers (such as STM32, PIC16)
Understanding of sensor fusion techniques (IMU, GPS, vision-based navigation)
Experience integrating algorithms and software into field-tested robotic platforms
Familiarity with Linux-based embedded systems and cross-compilation for edge hardware
Experience with edge devices such as Nvidia Jetsons or Raspberry PIs
Experience developing software with ROS/ROS2 in Linux environments
Part 107 certification
FAA Third Class Medical Certification

Responsibilities

Support the research, design, and prototype of autonomous systems ranging from concept development through operational deployment.
Involve modelling and simulation, system design and construction, guidance and planning, feedback control and state estimation, computer vision, machine learning/AI, and field/flight testing where applicable.
Work in a team-oriented development environment on fast-paced development goals.
Work on-site in the office 3 or more days a week.
Occasionally work in outdoor test environments.
Travel up to ~15% of the time to support field tests and visits to Government sponsor organizations.