What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Precision Mechanical Engineer-Technical Staff position at MIT Lincoln Laboratory?
Date: Feb 17, 2026
Location: Lexington, MA, US
Company: MIT Lincoln Laboratory
The Mechanical Engineering Group provides innovative design solutions for advanced technology prototypes. Example projects include laser communication, high-energy lasers, optical sensors, biological agent detectors, and large radar antennas, for systems deployed on ground, maritime, air- and space-borne platforms. The group has expertise in precision engineering, opto-mechanics, mechanisms, electronics packaging, large structures, highly efficient lightweight structures, composite materials and additive manufacturing. The group is the Engineering Division's center for 3D CAD design and data management and is involved in every step of program execution from conceptual design to system integration and test.
The successful candidate will work as part of and leading multidisciplinary teams on the development of complex mechanical and opto-mechanical systems. Responsibilities include engineering design, analysis, integration, and testing of hardware from conceptual design through fabrication and field performance evaluation. The candidate must be knowledgeable in a broad range of challenging problems for precision machine design, mechanisms, and opto-mechanical systems including exact constraint design, bearings, flexures, sensors, actuators, precision error budgeting, structural design, and control systems. The successful candidate will be expected to present engineering designs to both internal and external audiences. This position involves working in close-knit teams and may involve travel to meetings and field sites.
Demonstrated experience in design and development of complex opto-mechanical or precision engineered systems that must function in harsh environments is required. Experience in aerospace applications is preferred. Must be able to work collaboratively in a team environment and demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills, and require little or no supervision.
Education and Experience Requirement:
PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or MS with 10 years of applicable experience.
Clearance:
Interim clearance is acceptable upon start; secret clearance is required for maintaining the position. The candidate must be willing to undergo a background investigation for a Top Secret clearance once Secret clearance has been approved.
Recent Graduate Hiring Range: $145,200 - $170,000
Experienced Hiring Range: $145,200 - $220,000
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 ofother voluntary benefits, discounts and perks.
Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and will obtain and maintain a Secret clearance to start but must be willing and able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance with compartmented program eligibility in the future.
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: 42725
Nearest Major Market: Boston
Job Segment:
Security Clearance, Secret Clearance, Mechanical Engineer, Top Secret Clearance, TS / SCI, Government, Engineering