RF Communications System Analyst-Technical Staff

MIT Lincoln Laboratory•Lexington, MA

2d•$140,000 - $207,000

About The Position

The Strategic and Long-Range Communications Group develops new system concepts and techniques to support the U.S. Government’s critical communications needs. The Group specializes in RF communications for ground, sea, air, and space applications, with a focus on assured global connectivity despite adversary interference and interception threats. Its work draws on communications system analysis, digital signal processing, RF technology, rapid prototyping, and field experimentation. The Technical Staff member will develop and analyze current and future RF system concepts and algorithms, including communication systems research and simulation of modulation, coding, machine learning, and link-layer algorithms for military communications scenarios. The role involves leading complex technical efforts and, depending on level, leading projects, workstreams, programs, initiatives, or technical portfolios. Staff translate broad objectives into research or execution deliverables, integrate expertise across disciplines, and deliver mission outcomes. Day-to-day work includes designing adaptive RF systems focused primarily on physical and link layers, analyzing communications scenarios, identifying opportunities for improvement, developing next-generation DoD communications concepts, performing link-budget calculations, and coordinating laboratory and field experiments to demonstrate capabilities. Candidates are considered at Level 5 or Level 6 based on education, experience, technical expertise, leadership, and the scale and complexity of their work. The selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required.

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 Ph.D. and typically 0 or more years; or an equivalent combination of education and experience for Level 5.
For Level 6, a 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 Ph.D. 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 technical judgment to broad challenges requiring integration across related systems or methods.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects, major workstreams, complex programs, or significant multi-team technical efforts and deliver complex outcomes.
Experience evaluating alternatives and trade-offs, recommending paths forward, managing ambiguity, and adapting technical approaches to evolving 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.
Relevant 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 Secret-level DoD security clearance.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Experience using MATLAB, Python, or a similar numerical analysis tool.
Experience with communication systems, information theory, and/or detection and estimation theory.
Background in statistical inference, numerical linear algebra and optimization methods, data processing, and scientific computing.

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.
Mentor and support staff 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.
Design adaptive RF systems focused primarily on physical and link layers.
Analyze RF communications scenarios and identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
Develop concepts for next-generation DoD RF communications.
Perform link-budget calculations and account for environmental characteristics that affect performance.
Devise and coordinate laboratory and field experiments to measure and demonstrate new capabilities.