Staff Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts
Staff Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are highly active, with strong demand concentrated in the Greater Boston technology corridor, life sciences ecosystem, and defense and aerospace sectors, drawing talent at every level from emerging engineers to principal-level technical leaders. The largest hiring metros are Boston, Cambridge, and Waltham, where anchors like Raytheon Technologies, MathWorks, and Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham system maintain lasting engineering presence. The most sought-after specialties are software systems engineering, embedded and real-time systems, and hardware reliability engineering. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 272+ Staff Engineer jobs
The Advanced Electro-Optical Systems Group (Group 99) designs and prototypes innovative electro-optical systems for the Department of Defense, NASA, and other U.S. government organizations. Our expertise spans satellite systems, electro-optical and infrared sensors, electronics, image processing, and low-SWaP optical communications. By integrating hardware and software development, we architect, prototype, and deploy end-to-end systems tailored to mission needs. We work directly with end users to transform promising concepts into operational capabilities on accelerated timelines.
Recent examples of our work include a space-based telescope for satellite tracking, a laser communications payload and associated ground terminal for geosynchronous orbit, and a satellite telescope payload for high-resolution imaging of other satellites in low Earth orbit.
Job Overview
We're looking for an Electrical Engineer to join our team. You'll work with optical, mechanical, and electrical engineers to design, integrate, and deploy electro-optic systems for terrestrial and space applications.
The role is hands-on and carries system-level ownership. You will:
- Design electronics for space and launch environments capable of handling faults
- Bring up and debug new hardware
- Integrate boards with sensors, optics, and mechanical assemblies
- Design and implement the firmware behind the system
We expect you to think beyond individual boards and contribute to the performance, reliability, and success of the whole system. You should be self-directed, comfortable with ambiguous problems, and able to scope and solve issues that cross disciplines.
What we offer: work with a multidisciplinary team to develop new concepts. Gain experience building space flight systems. You will have opportunities to grow into new areas of expertise and advance your career while shaping the system we deliver.
Because the work is collaborative and hardware-focused, this is a fully on-site position.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their education, experience, demonstrated technical capabilities, leadership responsibilities, and the scope and complexity of their prior work.
Level 3 – Associate Staff
- 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 an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Solid technical depth in a primary engineering, research, or other technical domain, with the 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.
Level 4 – Associate Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 4+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; a PhD may be considered; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong technical depth in a primary domain with emerging breadth across related engineering, research, technical disciplines, or mission areas.
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and lead components of projects or technical workstreams.
- Experience managing milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables for assigned project areas.
- Ability to communicate complex information to varied audiences and collaborate with project teams, sponsors, and internal partners.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor others, review work, and contribute to team technical capability.
Additional Minimum Qualifications
- Demonstrated analog, digital, microcontroller, and/or FPGA design experience
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Motor control or sensors
- Camera design and characterization
- Power system design
- PCB design and layout software
- RF design
- Circuit simulation
- Space-qualified electronics
- Python, MATLAB, or other programming languages
Associate Staff 3: $114,000-$148,000
Associate Staff 4:$124,000-$164,000
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: 43668
The Advanced Electro-Optical Systems Group (Group 99) designs and prototypes innovative electro-optical systems for the Department of Defense, NASA, and other U.S. government organizations. Our expertise spans satellite systems, electro-optical and infrared sensors, electronics, image processing, and low-SWaP optical communications. By integrating hardware and software development, we architect, prototype, and deploy end-to-end systems tailored to mission needs. We work directly with end users to transform promising concepts into operational capabilities on accelerated timelines.
Recent examples of our work include a space-based telescope for satellite tracking, a laser communications payload and associated ground terminal for geosynchronous orbit, and a satellite telescope payload for high-resolution imaging of other satellites in low Earth orbit.
Job Overview
We're looking for an Electrical Engineer to join our team. You'll work with optical, mechanical, and electrical engineers to design, integrate, and deploy electro-optic systems for terrestrial and space applications.
The role is hands-on and carries system-level ownership. You will:
- Design electronics for space and launch environments capable of handling faults
- Bring up and debug new hardware
- Integrate boards with sensors, optics, and mechanical assemblies
- Design and implement the firmware behind the system
We expect you to think beyond individual boards and contribute to the performance, reliability, and success of the whole system. You should be self-directed, comfortable with ambiguous problems, and able to scope and solve issues that cross disciplines.
What we offer: work with a multidisciplinary team to develop new concepts. Gain experience building space flight systems. You will have opportunities to grow into new areas of expertise and advance your career while shaping the system we deliver.
Because the work is collaborative and hardware-focused, this is a fully on-site position.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates will be considered for the appropriate level based on their education, experience, demonstrated technical capabilities, leadership responsibilities, and the scope and complexity of their prior work.
Level 3 – Associate Staff
- 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 an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Solid technical depth in a primary engineering, research, or other technical domain, with the 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.
Level 4 – Associate Staff
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline or other relevant technical field and typically 4+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree and typically 2+ years of relevant experience; a PhD may be considered; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Strong technical depth in a primary domain with emerging breadth across related engineering, research, technical disciplines, or mission areas.
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and lead components of projects or technical workstreams.
- Experience managing milestones, dependencies, risks, and deliverables for assigned project areas.
- Ability to communicate complex information to varied audiences and collaborate with project teams, sponsors, and internal partners.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor others, review work, and contribute to team technical capability.
Additional Minimum Qualifications
- Demonstrated analog, digital, microcontroller, and/or FPGA design experience
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Motor control or sensors
- Camera design and characterization
- Power system design
- PCB design and layout software
- RF design
- Circuit simulation
- Space-qualified electronics
- Python, MATLAB, or other programming languages
Associate Staff 3: $114,000-$148,000
Associate Staff 4:$124,000-$164,000
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: 43668
See All 272+ Staff Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Staff Engineer JobsStaff Engineer Jobs by City in Massachusetts
Where Massachusetts roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Staff Engineer Job Market in Massachusetts
A snapshot from current Massachusetts openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory28
- Boston Dynamics18
- Lila Sciences11
- Analog Devices11
- UKG9
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software15
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals7
- Consulting & Professional Services6
- Electronics & Hardware5
- Manufacturing4
What Massachusetts Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in staff engineer jobs across Massachusetts.
- Bachelor's or advanced degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field
- Seven or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Proven ability to own system architecture and drive cross-team technical decisions
- Experience with large-scale distributed systems, embedded systems, or hardware design depending on discipline
- Strong communication skills for mentoring junior engineers and aligning with product and business stakeholders
- Familiarity with Agile development practices and modern CI/CD tooling in a complex engineering organization
Staff Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a staff engineer in Massachusetts?
Becoming a staff engineer in Massachusetts typically requires a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a closely related discipline, followed by years of progressive experience leading technical initiatives. Massachusetts does not require a state-issued license for most software or systems staff engineer roles, though Professional Engineer registration through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is valued in certain hardware, civil, and defense contexts. Employers prioritize demonstrated architectural ownership over credentials alone.
Which companies hire staff engineers in Massachusetts?
Employers hiring staff engineers in Massachusetts right now include MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Boston Dynamics, and Lila Sciences, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Massachusetts's dense concentration of defense contractors, biotech firms, and enterprise software companies means staff engineer openings appear consistently across a wide range of sectors and employer sizes.
Which Massachusetts cities have the most staff engineer jobs?
Boston, Waltham, and Lexington have the most staff engineer openings in Massachusetts. Boston and Cambridge anchor the market through their concentration of technology companies, research hospitals, and university-adjacent startups, while Waltham and the Route 128 corridor host major defense, hardware, and enterprise software employers that have maintained engineering operations in the suburbs for decades.
Are there remote staff engineer jobs in Massachusetts?
Yes, and more than most technical fields. About 62% of staff engineer openings tied to Massachusetts are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the desk-based and highly collaborative nature of the work. Software systems and platform engineering roles carry the highest remote availability, while embedded systems, hardware, and defense-cleared positions typically require on-site presence at Massachusetts facilities.
How can I get hired as a staff engineer in Massachusetts with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a senior software engineer or senior systems engineer role at a Massachusetts employer, then earning a staff-level promotion by leading a high-visibility project. Large Massachusetts employers like Raytheon Technologies, HubSpot, and Wayfair run structured new-graduate and rotational engineering programs that place early-career engineers on paths toward principal and staff levels. Building a strong portfolio of system design work and pursuing a Professional Engineer registration through the Massachusetts board can accelerate that progression in hardware and defense contexts.
Where can I find and apply to staff engineer jobs in Massachusetts?
You can find and apply to staff engineer jobs in Massachusetts on Migrate Mate, which lists current Massachusetts openings across industries and experience levels. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 272+ Staff Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts
Find roles in Massachusetts that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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