The Control & Autonomous Systems Engineering Group (Group 76) is seeking an Assistant Group Leader to foster innovation and drive future prototyping work in embedded electronics, embedded software, and controls for programs ranging from rapid prototypes to Level 1 across the entire Laboratory’s portfolio.

At MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the Assistant Group Leader (AGL) position is an experienced leadership role that involves visioning, strategy development, and direction-setting across multiple technical thrusts, and day-to-day management of projects and people for a Technical Group. AGLs work collaboratively with the Group Leader, other AGLs, technical program managers, administrative staff, and cross-Laboratory partners on technical programs. AGLs also collaborate with U.S. government agencies and external partners to identify needs, develop innovative technical solutions, lead challenging prototype development efforts, and assist in staff career development.

Group 76 is a critical component within Lincoln’s Engineering Division with a large concentration of Electrical Engineers, Computer Scientists, Controls Engineers, and Roboticists. We are tightly coupled with programs in autonomous systems and complex prototypes that leverage the full spectrum of engineering disciplines and research areas—including mechanical, structures, thermal, optics, electrical, software, materials, fabrication, and systems engineering functions—to conceive and craft solutions as fieldable prototypes for a wide range of mission areas spanning space, air, land, and maritime environments.

The Group leadership and staff play a key interfacing role to develop awareness and understanding of problems that internal and external sponsors and stakeholders face that can be solved by the Group. Group personnel also work directly with end-users of prototype systems to develop insights into the end-use field environments and to conduct real-world testing. Members of the Group may also interface with private sector vendors, industry consortia, academia, and other government Laboratories.

As an element of the Group’s continued strategic development, the new AGL will:

• Shape the ongoing and future portfolio of programs via strengthened ties to mission partners and external sponsors;

• Hire / develop a strong team of technical leaders that positions the group to drive the entire Lab’s capabilities in embedded electronics and software, particularly in the area of complex prototypes (e.g. Level 1).

• Establish a research footprint for Embedded systems by leading and growing the Engineering Frontier in Embedded Computation and Electronics for Complex Prototypes.

• Define the Group’s digital strategy for embedded systems to increase execution efficiency and drive adoption across the Lab community.

  MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Technical leadership and strategy

• Lead the strategy development and implementation of modern embedded electronics and embedded software to enhance the Laboratory’s ability to innovate across multiple mission areas. Strengthen relationships with sponsors and mission partners across the Lab. Particular emphasis on complex prototypes and those involving space flight hardware/software.

• Leverage experience to provide direction and guidance on program execution and suggest solutions and approaches to challenging technical problems. Review and provide feedback on execution plans and implementation to ensure project success. Recommend the application of best practices and consideration of past lessons-learned.

• Lead and grow the Engineering Frontier in Embedded Computation and Electronics for Complex Prototypes. This internal funding source (similar to “Line funding”) should pull research ideas from across the Division and Laboratory to establish a research outlet for strong staff that can drive the state of practice forward.

• Define the Group’s strategy for integrating modern techniques such as model-based design principles and digital engineering in the early phases of design and prototyping. These capabilities apply to a variety of missions and promise to improve the Lab’s ability to adapt to changing requirements, increase efficiency of execution, and enable future programs to leverage heritage designs.

  2. Program management

• Lead the development and execution of programs across all phases (e.g. concept development through deployment and technology transfer).

• Contribute to program planning (e.g. schedule / budget, proposal briefings, statements of work, staffing and financial plans)

• Build strong teams that demonstrate ownership and technical excellence. Adapt and optimize staff assignments to meet shifting program needs and staff growth.

• Develop, review, and provide briefings and technical reports to sponsors and the Director’s office.

• Seek new program opportunities with Mission partners and sponsors and coordinate program development and execution plans.

  3. Staff development

• Promote technical excellence standards and expectations through working groups, peer reviews, apprentice roles, and providing staff regular feedback on technical work, briefings, and reports.

• Advance the careers of staff through mentoring and coaching, regular check-ins, career planning, goal setting, and participation in the annual staff performance evaluations and salary inputs.

• Identify high-quality staff candidates and participate in the interviewing and hiring process.

• Foster mentoring relationships amongst all levels of technical staff.

  4. Other responsibilities

• Assist with Group office administrative activities including release review, space planning, purchasing and contractor timesheet authorization, budgets, and conflict resolution.

• Identify opportunities to modernize the Group’s laboratories and capabilities to capitalize on emerging commercial SW/HW offerings or stand-up unique infrastructure that will benefit the entire Lab community.

• Participate in Division and/or Director’s Office-level initiatives, studies, and committees.

  REQUIRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Technical degree in computer science, electrical, computer, software, mechanical, or aerospace engineering. An advanced degree is highly desirable.

• Exceptional knowledge of embedded systems, particularly those that operate within highly SWaP-constrained systems and those that require high reliability or tight timing requirements.

• Mixture of breadth and depth in modern software engineering best practices and enabling infrastructure is highly desirable.

• Broad awareness of pressing national security mission needs and history of increasing responsibility and technical leadership in a variety of team settings, with additional emphasis on space flight programs. Desire to assume leadership roles on one or more major programs.

• Experience and interest in team building through staff development, mentoring, and hiring, while fostering a diverse, inclusive culture.

• Strong ability to inspire and influence development of key new technologies and system concepts that leverage staff expertise and adjacent engineering disciplines .

  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 (https://hr.mit.edu/benefits) for more information. As an employee of MIT, you can also take advantage of other voluntary benefits, discounts and perks (https://hr.mit.edu/benefits/additional) .

  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.

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