Precise Time & Frequency (Atomic Clocks & Timing Systems) - Technical Lead

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Department Summary:

MITRE is at the leading edge in solving problems in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). PNT systems, such as GPS, atomic clocks, and inertial guidance, provide vital services to humanity in a wide array of fields, including emergency services, power grids, trade, and more. The "Communications, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and PNT Department" within the "Electronic Systems Innovation Center" lead's MITRE's efforts in PNT.

Roles & Responsibilities:

We are seeking a senior technical leader and subject-matter expert in precise time and time interval to shape and lead our work in resilient timing and synchronization across multiple sponsors and sectors.

In this role, you will provide deep technical expertise in timing architectures, time transfer systems, and oscillators to guide multidisciplinary teams, and directly influence sponsor strategies for resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), critical infrastructure timing, and next-generation clock technologies.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Serve as a technical authority in precise time, time dissemination, and synchronization systems.
• Lead technical assessments of timing systems and architectures (e.g., clock ensembles, timing over communications, holdover solutions, network time synchronization).
• Develop and mature concepts for resilient timing (multi-source timing architectures, GNSS alternatives, time transfer techniques, time authentication/assurance).
• Evaluate timing performance, robustness, and vulnerabilities in complex environments (e.g., contested RF, cyber threats, denied/degraded GNSS).
• Provide independent, objective technical advice and trade studies on oscillators and timing approaches for government and critical infrastructure sponsors.

Program and Sponsor Engagement

• Partner with government sponsors to understand mission needs and translate them into technical roadmaps, R&D priorities, and implementation strategies.
• Lead and shape portfolios of work across multiple projects, ensuring technical coherence and alignment with sponsor objectives and MITRE strategic priorities.
• Present complex technical topics and recommendations clearly to senior sponsor stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.
• Help define standards, best practices, and reference architectures for timing in defense, intelligence, space, and critical infrastructure domains.

Research, Innovation, and Prototyping

• Monitor R&D in advanced clock technologies (e.g., microwave and optical atomic clocks, chip-scale atomic clocks, quartz, and MEMS oscillators).
• Guide development and evaluation of time transfer and synchronization techniques (e.g., GNSS CV/CP, two-way time transfer, network-based techniques, IEEE 1588/PTP, NTP).
• Initiate and direct experimentation, modeling, simulation, and prototype development to demonstrate and assess timing solutions.
• Publish results and represent MITRE in external technical communities (conferences, standards bodies, working groups).

Technical Team Building & Mentorship

• Provide technical mentorship and career development for early- and mid-career engineers and scientists in timing, RF, and PNT disciplines.
• Promote rigor in systems engineering, verification/validation, and test and evaluation of timing systems.

Basic Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience and a Bachelors Degree or 6+ years and a Masters degree or 3+ years and PhD in the following: Electrical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering or related field

• Demonstrated expertise in the following areas:

• Timing and frequency distribution systems (RF, optical, or digital)

• Network time synchronization (e.g., NTP, IEEE 1588/PTP) and/or time transfer techniques

• Experience working with or within US government organizations (DoD, IC, civil agencies, labs).

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Systems Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience considered

• 10+ years of experience in precise time and time interval, including significant experience with time synchronization systems.

• Specialization in time/frequency systems, atomic physics, or precision measurement.

• Demonstrated expertise in the following areas:

• Timing and frequency distribution systems (RF, optical, or digital)

• Network time synchronization (e.g., NTP, IEEE 1588/PTP) and/or time transfer techniques

• Atomic clock design, characterization, and performance analysis (stability, phase noise, drift, Allan deviation, etc.)

• Hands-on experience with laboratory or field systems involving oscillators, Kalman filters, or time transfer.

• Experience with resilient timing for critical infrastructure (telecommunications, power grid, finance, transportation).

• Familiarity with relevant standards and communities (e.g., NIST, ITU, IEEE timing standards, PNT advisory bodies, industry timing forums).

• Experience developing or evaluating GNSS-alternative or multi-source timing architectures.

• Demonstrated contributions to external technical communities (publications, standards work, workshops, or consortia).

• TS/SCI Clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$156,400 - $195,500 - $234,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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