Associate Staff 3: Quantum Science and Engineering

The Advanced Quantum Technologies Group focuses on accelerating quantum computing and quantum sensing using ion and solid-state platforms. Core areas of the Group include fundamental quantum science to guide next-generation advances, quantum devices (ion computing testbeds, precision clocks, magnetometers, and other sensors), and quantum systems such as magnetic-assisted navigation and quantum microscopy for microelectronics diagnostics.

Job Overview

MIT Lincoln Laboratory Level 3 Associate Staff provide critical multi-domain innovative research to the Laboratory's national security mission. They prototype solutions for state-of-the art technology and engage in many steps of a program(s) lifecycle with increasing independence and responsibility in collaboration with project leaders. As a successful Level 3 Associate Staff candidate, you will independently contribute to multi-disciplinary efforts, may lead small projects/teams, contribute to sponsor briefings, write test plans and reports, apply complex and creative solutions to solving technical problems, ultimately improving the Laboratory's advanced technologies. You will bring technical depth to a singular several areas of expertise/specialty, build a broader more robust understanding of adjacent disciplines, program objectives and sponsor needs, and integrate it all through the lens of the Laboratory's mission.

As a successful Level 3 Associate Staff, you will have solid technical depth, sound judgment, and the initiative to work independently on less-defined assignments. You will adapt established approaches, own discrete project/program components of technical work, contribute to program documentation and reporting, and collaborate with project/program teams across the Laboratory. Your work will include multiple activities such as hardware and software development, systems analysis, data analysis, component fabrication, system integration, testing, and documentation.

Additional Job Overview Details

The Advanced Quantum Technologies Group seeks a highly motivated, detail-oriented, curious, and driven physicist, applied physicist, or electrical engineer with hands-on laboratory experience. The successful candidate will join a close-knit, dynamic team pushing the forefront of quantum sensing, with emphasis on solid-state spin-based sensors and their integration into practical systems. As an active participant in cutting-edge research and development, the candidate can expect to face novel physics and engineering problems that require creative solutions daily. This position involves working at the forefront of quantum technology to develop quantum sensing and imaging systems and the applications for these systems.

The candidate will contribute to building optical testbeds and sensing prototypes; integrating optical, RF/microwave, electronic, mechanical, and cryogenic subsystems; developing measurement control software and data analysis pipelines; performing precision measurements; and assisting in optimizing sensor performance in alignment with application and system-level requirements. The successful candidate will have opportunities to grow into increasing technical responsibility as part of the Laboratory's expanding quantum sensing portfolio.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Owns and executes discrete design and development tasks such as data analyses, programming, designs, tests, models, simulations, or integration tasks within broader project or program efforts.
• Applies relevant technical knowledge to solve less-defined and moderately complex problems, independently identifying appropriate methods and adapts existing approaches as needed.
• May contribute to system, subsystem, or component-level development activities that may span multiple disciplines, mission needs, products, or technical focus areas.
• Develops, reviews, and contributes to technical documentation, program reporting, data analyses, design materials, and presentations based on ambiguous policies and procedures.
• Collaborates with project team members to ensure milestones, assumptions, dependencies, and technical risks are understood and addressed.
• Begins to provide practical guidance to less experienced staff by explaining technical concepts, sharing methods, and reviewing selected work products for accuracy, providing feedback as needed.
• Consistently demonstrates initiative by seeking opportunities to lead new assignments and improve technical approaches, while continuously deepening mission-aligned engineering expertise.

Additional Job Duties & Responsibilities

Applicants should have a broad skillset and a willingness to work on a wide variety of tasks as needed. Typical tasks are:

• Hardware development, design, and construction (e.g. optical, RF/microwave, electronic, mechanical, cryogenic subsystems)
• Build and maintain optical testbeds and magnetic sensing prototypes
• System engineering and system integration
• Test and measurement
• Physics modeling of quantum systems
• Software programming for instrument control and data acquisition
• Data analysis and signal/image processing
• Laboratory validation and field testing

While a broad set of skills is desired, the majority of day-to-day tasks will be tailored to the applicants specific interests and strengths. Applicants should be comfortable both working alone in a self-directed manner and also working closely with a highly integrated larger team.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; or Master's degree and typically 0+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Solid technical depth in a primary engineering, research, or other technical domain with ability to apply knowledge independently.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and manage components of project work.
• Experience contributing to technical documentation, analyses, reports, presentations, or project deliverables.
• Ability to collaborate across project teams and communicate technical information clearly to appropriate audiences.
• Emerging ability to guide less experienced colleagues and contribute to team capability development.

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• Basic laboratory experience (e.g., familiarity with oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, analog circuits)
• Comfort with fundamental physical concepts and rigorous analytical analysis
• Experience in self-directed and group technical projects and research endeavors
• Experience using MATLAB and/or Mathematica
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team

Preferred Qualifications

• Laser and optics experience
• RF, microwave, or analog circuit design
• Familiarity with spin systems, magnetometry, or solid-state defect centers
• Coursework or research experience in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics or solid-state physics
• Scientific programming skills (Python, MATLAB, LabView, Mathematica, etc.)
• Experience with signal processing, image reconstruction, or sensor data analysis
• CAD design (e.g. SolidWorks)
• Embedded systems programming
• Familiarity with cryogenic, vacuum, or field-deployable instrumentation systems

Associate Staff 3: $114,000-$148,000

Disclaimer: MIT Lincoln Laboratory provides a typical hiring range as a good faith estimate of what we reasonably expect to offer for this position at the time of posting. The final salary offered to a selected candidate will depend on various factors, including-but not limited to-the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, skills and education/training, internal equity considerations and applicable legal requirements. This range reflects base salary only and does not include additional forms of compensation or benefits.

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, our exceptional career opportunities include many outstanding benefits to help you stay healthy, feel supported, and enjoy a fulfilling work-life balance. Benefits offered to employees include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• MIT-funded pension
• Matching 401K
• Paid leave (including vacation, sick, parental, military, etc.)
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• A range of work-life balance options
• ... and much more!

Please visit our Benefits page for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.

Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability status, or genetic information; U.S. citizenship is required.

Requisition ID: 43637