Open jobs at Lincoln Lab may be hard to find if you don’t know the exact website/link where they are posted! I have been working in this organization for over a year now and only recently discovered the website! So I thought I will share the exact link in this blog post so others may apply as they wish.

I joined the Lab as a subcontractor myself through another company. This is why I did not know about the regular careers website until now. I will share a brief introduction about the Lab below but please do your own homework on the organization as I am still very new. Apologies in advance for any inaccuracies in the post and please let me know in the comments if you find any problems.

Although I work at MIT Lincoln Lab this blog post is not written in an official capacity. This is like telling my friends unofficially that they can consider applying to the Lab if they wish. But it is not professional advice. Thanks for reading while doing your due diligence.

Quick Intro to the Lab

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) that operates under the sponsorship of the US Department of Defense (DoD). The laboratory is located in Lexington, Massachusetts, and employs over 4,000 scientists, engineers, and support staff. The laboratory aims to develop advanced technologies that help the US military protect the nation’s security interests.

If you get a job at the Lab, you will most probably have to move to Massachusetts. I moved from Ohio to Massachusetts and still adjusting to the many pros and cons of the state. The cons are primarily the high cost of living but I won’t digress too much from the main topic here.

What is an FFRDC?

FFRDCs are organizations that are owned and operated by private companies, universities, or nonprofit organizations but are funded by the US government to perform research and development in specific areas. These organizations are unique in that they provide the government with access to specialized expertise and facilities that are not typically available in the private sector. FFRDCs are also subject to certain government regulations and must maintain a level of independence from their sponsoring agency to ensure unbiased and objective research.

I have worked in the government sector for almost 5 years now with Lincoln Lab being my third role. You can read about other ways of working in the government sector in my post below. FFRDC is probably my personal favorite subsection of government work but that is simply me at this time. All roles I have performed in and prior work even in academia have paved the way to where I am now. There is much to learn from each role and organization so no matter where you end up, I trust you will learn a lot.

3 ways of working for the federal government and on choosing technical roles

Early History of Lincoln Lab

The mission of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is “…to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world.”  As part of this mission, MIT has a long-standing commitment to the furtherance of technology in support of national security. MIT Lincoln Laboratory is one manifestation of MIT’s ongoing involvement in this area, and the origins and history of the Laboratory provide a case study of MIT leaning forward when required for the service of the nation.

Lincoln Laboratory was established in 1951 to build the nation’s first air defense system. However, its roots date back to the MIT Radiation Laboratory, which was formed out of the Physics Department during World War II to develop radar for the Allied war effort. The Rad Lab, in collaboration with scientists from Great Britain, developed the fundamental principles, technologies, and engineering designs for the microwave radar systems that effectively countered the Nazi airborne and submarine threats to the Allied Forces. At its peak, the Rad Lab employed 4000 staff and was responsible for the development and fielding of approximately half of the radar systems used in the war effort.

Source: www.ll.mit.edu/about/history

Who works at MIT Lincoln Lab?

MIT Lincoln Laboratory employs a diverse workforce of scientists, engineers, and support staff. The laboratory offers a wide range of job opportunities for individuals with backgrounds in engineering, mathematics, computer science, physics, and other related fields. Some of the typical job titles at MIT Lincoln Laboratory include research scientist, engineer, software developer, and program manager. The laboratory also offers internships and co-op positions for students who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in research and development.

In addition to its research and development activities, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is also involved in outreach and education initiatives. The laboratory offers a variety of programs designed to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists and engineers. These programs include summer camps, workshops, and internships for students of all ages.

Wide range of job opportunities in science, engineering, and technology

In summary, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center that is dedicated to developing advanced technologies for US national security. The laboratory offers a wide range of job opportunities for individuals with backgrounds in science, engineering, and technology. The laboratory is also involved in outreach and education initiatives aimed at inspiring and educating the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Where to apply for open jobs at Lincoln Lab

I have been working at MIT Lincoln Lab for over a year now and only recently discovered this link to apply to staff positions here. So I thought I would share it in this blog post.

Direct website for open jobs at Lincoln Lab: http://careers.ll.mit.edu/

I joined as a subcontractor myself through another company so I did not know about the regular careers website until now. This is where you can see all open positions and apply to multiple jobs if you like. I believe the application is fairly simple requiring a resume and basic information. The cover letter is optional. Of course, please verify all information yourself.

I will share part of an open job description below. This should give an idea of the types of roles available at the Lab. This is just one example though so please do your due diligence looking at all opportunities.

Open jobs at Lincoln Lab example

Job description for Systems Analyst – Technical Staff (summarized below)

The Group is seeking a Systems Analyst (Technical Staff) to contribute to multidisciplinary teams carrying out high-visibility studies and to routinely convey research in a clear, concise manner to a wide spectrum of audiences. The candidate hired will gain experience analyzing all aspects of defensive systems, including sensors (e.g., radar, infrared, etc.), platforms (e.g., undersea, airborne, space-based, etc.), and algorithms (e.g., for detection, tracking, identification, etc.), as well as learn to assess the impact of adversary systems and actions on U.S. defenses. We are looking for candidates with demonstrated ability in a technical research area, and we will provide training in the above defense concepts and systems. After gaining experience, the hired candidate will begin to lead major analyses and brief senior leaders.

Required qualifications:

• Ability to learn new technical areas quickly and apply that knowledge effectively to solve challenging mission problems
• Ability to present technical concepts clearly to a wide spectrum of audiences
• Proficiency with programming languages for computer modeling (e.g. Matlab, Python, C)
• Doctorate in Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Astronomy, or a related field. In lieu of a Doctorate, a Master’s degree with at least 5 years of technical experience will be considered.

Of course, there is no bias toward applying to MIT Lincoln Lab. I post regularly and generally on early career advice and recently shared opportunities at my former employer Booz Allen as well.

Good luck with your job search!!! Let me know any comments and/or message me on LinkedIn with your questions.

My former employer Booz Allen is hiring