EMPLOYMENT
Mission Areas
An overview of Lincoln Laboratory’s primary mission areas is presented on the Mission Areas page. Each mission area offers an in-depth look at its research, programs, accomplishments, and outlook for future direction.
Career Opportunities
The Career Opportunities list describes all positions that may be available at MIT Lincoln Laboratory at any time. These descriptions in the Career Opportunities List do not reflect specific openings, but provide an overall picture of the skills and responsibilities involved in technical employment at the Laboratory.
Print-Friendly Version
A printable version of the Technical Division and Group Summaries and Career Opportunities Booklet (pdf) is available.
Organization of Technical Divisions
MIT Lincoln Laboratory's technical programs are in seven divisions and groups and correlate to the Laboratory's mission areas. The chart below provides an overview of these divisions and groups. Click on each division or group for more information.
Full-size pdf of technical divisions org chart
Descriptions of Divisions
Division 3 - Air and Missile Defense Technology
This division’s main focus is investigating system concepts, developing technology, building prototypes, and conducting measurements to support the development of long-range radar and optical sensors, interceptors, and networks for ballistic missile defense systems. See Division 3 groups
Division 4 - Homeland Protection and Tactical Systems
This division leads Lincoln Laboratory efforts in the Homeland Defense and Security, Air Traffic Control, Counterterrorism, and Air Force Red Team areas. The division focuses on systems analysis, system development, and field testing. Its research covers biological-chemical sensing, air vehicle survivability, electronic attack and electronic protection, detection of improvised explosive devices, and homeland air surveillance and air control. This division also operates the Lincoln Laboratory Flight Facility. See Division 4 groups
Division 6 - Communications and Information Technology
This division develops and demonstrates new technology to enable worldwide communications for the military and other government agencies, with emphasis on networked sensor and computer data. These communications systems carry data that are used by people to make operational decisions. This division is also extensively involved in field experimentation to verify algorithms and architectural concepts. See Division 6 groups
Division 7 - Engineering
The Engineering Division performs rapid development and large system demonstrations through design, analysis, hardware fabrication, and testing support. The division’s expertise includes mechanical, fabrication, aero, thermal, optical, and control systems engineering. Its work supports communications systems, missile defense testing, pointing and tracking systems, aircraft and satellite payload design, and optical systems. Special emphasis is placed on the ability to meld design and analysis capabilities to support the rapid prototyping of hardware systems. See Division 7 groups
Division 8 - Solid State
This division performs research and development on component and subsystem-level technologies which can enable new approaches to DoD systems and advance the state of the art for U.S. industry. This division’s expertise covers a wide front including biology, chemistry, computer science, device physics, integrated circuit design and fabrication, high performance imagers, lithography, materials, nanofabrication, lasers and optics, optoelectronics, packaging, photonics, quantum information systems, and RF technology. See Division 8 groups
Division 9 - Aerospace
The Aerospace Division develops sensors, technologies, and systems that help to strengthen national security. Focus areas are space control and environmental monitoring. The division’s work includes development of system concepts, hardware demonstrations, and technology transfer to industry. The primary technology focus is the application of new components and algorithms to enable sensors with greatly enhanced capabilities. See Division 9 groups
Division 10 - ISR Systems and Technology
This division is engaged in the development of advanced sensors and sensor technologies for undersea, surface, airborne, and space-based mission applications. Efforts span a variety of disciplines including systems analysis, signal and image processing, advanced sensor concepts, signal processor hardware and software design and development, large-scale system prototyping, and field-testing and data analysis. See Division 10 groups
Service Departments
Lincoln Laboratory's service departments represent the administrative side of the Laboratory. The Laboratory has a large staff in six service areas, focusing on contracts, facilities, security, information, finances, and human resources. See all Service Departments
Air and Missile Defense Technology-Division 3
The Air and Missile Defense Technology Division’s role is to work with government, industry, and laboratories to develop an integrated ballistic missile defense system. This division’s main focus is investigating system concepts, developing technology, building prototypes, and conducting measurements to support the development of long-range radar and optical sensors, interceptors, and networks for ballistic missile defense systems. A strong emphasis is placed on partnerships and the transfer of technology to industry.
Group 31—Systems and Architectures
The Systems and Architectures Group examines near- and long-term technology opportunities for the purpose of charting the future development of U.S. ballistic missile defense. As the country proceeds toward its first deployment of a national missile defense, this group is working on the next generation of systems. The group investigates advanced radar concepts, new infrared sensors, missile designs, space-based platforms, and future distributed command and control software to help identify opportunities to develop, test, and deploy these technologies.
Group 32—Advanced Concepts and Technology
The Advanced Concepts and Technology Group supports the Missile Defense Agency in the development and evaluation of advanced algorithms and architectures for ballistic missile defense. Algorithms and architectures of interest are target detection in noise and clutter, multitarget and multisensor tracking, target identification and handover, multisensor fusion, and sensor/weapon resource management. The group analyzes radar and optical sensor data to identify phenomenologies that can be exploited to improve target identification and subsequent engagement. Based on findings, algorithms and architectures that utilize advanced cognitive science techniques to demonstrate these exploitation concepts are developed and evaluated over broad parameter spaces.
Group 33—Ranges and Test Beds
The Ranges and Test Beds Group supports the Department of Defense (DoD) by designing and developing modern sensor systems and components to enable a ballistic missile defense system. The group has a long-term association with the Reagan Test Site (RTS) at the Kwajalein Missile Range and has played a key role in developing the sophisticated radar instrumentation at RTS. The group’s sensor systems expertise supports ranges involved in ballistic missile defense system testing throughout the entire Pacific region and designs test beds that support discrimination algorithm testing and sensor fusion experiments. This group is also investigating the system architecture and signal processing concepts associated with a radical radar design approach for the next generation of discrimination radar sensors.
Group 34—Intelligence, Test, and Evaluation
The Intelligence, Test, and Evaluation Group supports the testing and development of the ballistic missile defense system being pursued by the Missile Defense Agency. In particular, the group plans and conducts field experiments and collects data to understand problems and formulate solutions that impact the nation’s capability to defend against ballistic missiles. The group also focuses on characterizing threat missile systems based on the analysis of collected radar and optical data.
Group 36—Missile Defense Elements
The Missile Defense Elements Group supports the Missile Defense Agency in the development, deployment, testing, and enhancement of the ballistic missile defense system. This system is being developed to defend the United States, deployed forces, and allies from ballistic missile attacks. This group performs detailed system and component engineering, flight and ground test analysis, and advanced capability development. Several elements are being developed, tested, and deployed in the near future, including the ground-based missile defense element (to protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles) and a ship-based Aegis ballistic missile defense element (to protect deployed forces and allies against short- and medium-range ballistic missiles).
Group 38—Seeker and Interceptor Technology
The Seeker and Interceptor Technology Group supports the development of advanced technologies and systems for application to interceptor missiles to be used in future ballistic missile defense systems. These programs support the Missile Defense Agency as well as the military services in developing elements of the planned ballistic missile defense system. The technology and system development efforts also support the evolution of advanced ballistic missile defense concepts and capabilities as well as new ground, airborne, and space-based sensors for data collection. The emphasis of the group’s work is on advanced sensors and algorithms, missile guidance, mission simulations, laboratory and field/flight tests, and data reduction and analysis.
Group 39—Air Defense Techniques
The Air Defense Techniques Group develops radar, communications, and systems technologies for use in future air defense systems. Of particular interest is the development of highly digitized phased-array radars and advanced signal processing techniques to enable the next generation of shipboard and airborne surveillance sensors. Major activities within the group include system concept development, modeling and simulation, signal processing algorithm design, prototype system design and development, and experimental field testing and data analysis.
Reagan Test Site (Kwajalein)
The Reagan Test Site Group serves as the scientific advisor to the Reagan Test Site at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll installation located about 2,500 miles WSW of Hawaii. Twenty staff members, accompanied by their families, work at this site, serving two- to three-year tours of duty. The site’s radars and optical and telemetry sensors support ballistic missile defense testing and space surveillance. The radar systems provide test facilities for radar technology development and for the development of ballistic missile defense techniques. MIT Lincoln Laboratory also supports upgrades to the command-and-control infrastructure of the range to include applications of real-time discrimination and decision aids developed as a result of research at the Laboratory.
Homeland Protection and Tactical Systems-Division 4
The Homeland Protection and Tactical Systems Division is leading Lincoln Laboratory efforts in the Homeland Defense and Security, Air Traffic Control, Counterterrorism, and Air Force Red Team areas. The division has world-class expertise in systems analysis, system development, and field testing, and is leading an effort to support rapid innovation capability. It focuses on a wide variety of areas including biological-chemical sensing, air vehicle survivability, electronic attack and electronic protection, detection of improvised explosive devices, and homeland air surveillance and air control. Recent efforts include architecture studies for the defense of civilians and facilities against potential biological attacks, development of the Enhanced Regional Situation Awareness system for the air defense of the National Capital Region, and development of technology for civil and military air traffic control. In addition, this division operates the Lincoln Laboratory Flight Facility, which provides aircraft, personnel, and ground support services for Laboratory programs’ flight operations.
Group 42—Surveillance Systems
The Surveillance Systems Group pioneers integrated sensing and decision support systems for both Air Traffic Control and Homeland Air Defense. This group pioneered significant advancements to the surveillance technology used by the major modern air traffic control radars and airborne collision avoidance systems. Ongoing programs focus on advancing new sensor, data fusion, and net-centric technologies to take new ideas from concept definition through development and evaluation with an operational prototype. Examples of currently fielded systems include the Enhanced Regional Situation Awareness System, which improves the identification and response to airborne threats to the National Capital Region, and the Runway Status Lights System, which improves the safety of taxiing aircraft at Dallas/Fort Worth. To accomplish these goals, this group employs a broad base of analysis, modeling, algorithm development, signal processing, software architecture and development, RF and digital hardware design, and system integration skills.
Group 43—Weather Sensing
The Weather Sensing Group develops sensors, automated forecasting systems, and decision support tools to reduce the impact of adverse weather on commercial aviation. To accomplish this, the group combines expertise in innovative signal, image, and sensor data-fusion processing with physical insights furnished by staff meteorologists. Key accomplishments have included the development of the FAA’s Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, ASR-9 Weather Systems Processor, Integrated Terminal Weather Systems, and Corridor Integrated Weather System.
Group 45 – Advanced Capabilities and Systems
The Advanced Capabilities and Systems Group assesses novel technologies and system concepts to solve significant defense and intelligence needs and rapidly develops prototype solutions to demonstrate concepts or provide fieldable capability. Modeling is used to evaluate the feasibility of proposed solutions to problems, as well as to creatively develop new alternatives. Where a rapid capability is sought, the group often leads multi-group coalitions in the execution of these efforts.
Group 46—Advanced System Concepts
The Advanced System Concepts Group conducts systems analysis on a broad range of problems related to surface surveillance, force protection, and homeland defense. Activities include sensor and system modeling, mission requirements analysis, and architecture development. A variety of technologies are examined, including radar, optical, acoustic, biological, and chemical sensors. Modeling and the analysis of field measurements are used to quantify the ability of current and proposed technology to meet mission requirements. This work includes analysis, algorithm development, and field testing.
Group 47—Biodefense Systems
The Biodefense Systems Group designs, develops, and demonstrates bioagent and other hazardous material sensing and protection systems that detect the presence of organisms of concern in air, water, or environmental samples. The goal of the sensing component is to increase the speed and accuracy of current detection methods by improving existing systems or inventing new sensors. The goal of the protection aspect is to develop methods and systems for mitigating the effect of a bioagent attack on buildings or people (civilian and military). Research from this group encompasses algorithm development and signal processing for integration of data from multiple sensors, deployment and modeling of existing sensors, hardware design for next-generation sensors, applied research in surface chemistry for organism concentration or detection, and applied biology research to rapidly purify organisms or their DNA or RNA from complex matrices. Systems analyses, including threat and vulnerability assessment, modeling of attacks and defenses, and cost/benefit assessment, are performed to optimize the design of biological or chemical defense systems.
Group 48—Tactical Defense Systems
The Tactical Defense Systems Group works on air defense issues, in particular, air vehicle survivability, vulnerability of United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft to weapons systems, electronic countermeasures, and air surveillance for homeland defense. The group focuses on understanding USAF and threat air defense systems through tests and measurements. Test activities include flight, field, and laboratory testing. The group operates two airplanes, both highly instrumented, and numerous ground systems for test efforts. The group also develops hardware for testing and prototype systems as well as for instrumenting existing sensors. Local testing is used to validate flight readiness. Data collected from testing are analyzed and compared with models in concert with Group 49, Systems and Analysis. The group’s emphasis remains on conducting field measurements using state-of-the-art instrumentation and analyzing the resulting data.
Group 49—Systems and Analysis
The Systems and Analysis Group provides technical analyses to USAF leadership on air vehicle survivability; the effectiveness of advanced weapon systems; the capabilities and limitations of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; and the vulnerability of U.S. aircraft and weapon systems to countermeasures. These analyses rely on a large body of air-defense modeling and simulation tools for RF, IR, and directed-energy systems. Validation of these tools is ensured by participation in an active program of laboratory measurements and flight testing. This infrastructure is used to support both USAF studies and Lincoln Laboratory initiatives.
Communications and Information Technology-Division 6
The Communications and Information Technology Division develops and demonstrates new technology to enable worldwide communications for the military and other government agencies, with emphasis on networked sensor and computer data. These communications systems carry data that are used by people to make operational decisions. Identifying, organizing, and fusing data from many sources into a useful form is also a part of this division’s effort and has a strong influence on the operational performance of large systems. There are many diverse elements to this program, including satellite, airborne, and terrestrial communications systems, networked together and employing advanced RF, optical, and networking technologies. The division is also extensively involved in field experimentation to verify algorithms and architectural concepts.
Group 61—Net-centric Integration
The Net-centric Integration Group integrates communication and networking capabilities to provide a prototyping and test environment for future airborne networking implementations. The future network-centric operations environment will include multiple terrestrial networks, airborne assets with multifaceted communication and networking capabilities, and a space backbone. This group’s focus is the development of an airborne communication node, which serves as a hub providing heterogeneous RF and optical data links, onboard gateway and routing, and network capacity brokering. To support experimentation and test, the group manages and operates a 707 test aircraft; a ground-based, portable communications and operations center, and a free-space microwave propagation measurement range. These test assets are used as proofs of concept for advanced communication and networking architectures. Current activities include integrating protected military satellite communications (Milsatcom), high-rate point-to-point tactical data links, and optical laser communication capabilities into the 707 test aircraft, as additions to the numerous existing modes of communication. Proof-of-concept objectives include utilizing the rich set of communication links with time-varying capacities in a brokered, IP-based, airborne network and demonstrating robust communications through dynamic link management and brokering techniques.
Group 62—Information Systems Technology
The Information Systems Technology Group is engaged in a wide range of information-processing-related projects focusing on speech and language processing and information operations. This group’s speech and language processing R&D efforts include speech recognition, speaker recognition (identification, verification, and authentication), language and dialect identification, word spotting, speech coding, speech and audio signal enhancement, and machine translation. The group’s information operations R&D efforts focus on techniques for protecting from, and detecting and reacting to, intrusions into networked information systems, and for preventing software faults and understanding malicious code that exploits those faults. The group is involved in testing and evaluating the security of U.S. Government systems and networks and in identifying and demonstrating vulnerabilities in such systems. The group is also initiating new R&D in analysis of social networks based on speech, text, and network communications and activities. In each R&D area, emphasis is on realistic data and experimental evaluation of techniques in test beds.
Group 63—Wideband Tactical Networking
The Wideband Tactical Networking Group develops concepts, technologies, and prototypes to provide on-the-move tactical military forces with wideband packet network access. The group’s current focus is on the design and integration of increasingly more capable, inexpensive, modular, mobile network nodes that support satellite, airborne, and terrestrial links. The purpose of these nodes is to give mobile warfighters the network access they need to run critical command-and-control applications and situational awareness applications no matter where they are moving in a theater of operations. During testing, nodes are placed on military vehicles and driven in rugged, off-road environments both at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and at military test ranges around the country. New technologies integrated into the modular nodes include novel tri-band antenna feeds, three-axis positioning systems, new waveforms and protocols for transponding satellites, and programmable modems.
Group 64—Advanced Satcom Systems and Operations
The Advanced Satcom Systems and Operations Group is involved in a synergistic combination of research, proof-of-concept test beds, and system engineering/ application efforts focused on the goals of enhancing the capacity, the robustness to interference, and the flexibility of future generations of communications satellites, as well as line-of-sight radio communications systems. Current research is concentrating on the design and performance of advanced waveforms (including higher-order signaling constellations and iterative demodulation/decoding), the construction of flexible, adaptive wideband frequency plans, robust acquisition and tracking techniques, dynamic resource-allocation protocols, and advanced networking strategies. Promising research results are verified in hardware and software proof-of-concept implementations that provide quantitative performance data as well as complexity information. The group’s system engineering activities apply new concepts and technologies to specific communications programs in the national interest.
Group 65—Advanced Networks and Applications
The Advanced Networks and Applications Group specializes in networking issues in the context of unique government requirements. One major activity focuses on mobile, ad-hoc, heterogeneous networking in an airborne context. High-performance networking (gigabit class and above) over satellite systems to both fixed and mobile systems is another area of focus. In the application area, the group is exploring ways to apply service-oriented architectures to sensor and decision support systems in environments with both wide- and narrowband communication systems comprising reliable (fiber) and unreliable (wireless) links. The group also operates an experimental all-optical, dark fiber network (Bossnet) that runs from Boston to Washington, D.C.
Group 66—Advanced Lasercom Systems and Operations
The Advanced Lasercom Systems and Operations Group develops, builds, and operates prototype space and airborne lasercom terminals. The technology developed and the lessons learned from these activities are transferred to operational programs through participation in standards groups and through the operation of a gold-standard test infrastructure. Major efforts include demonstration of a low-cost, high-performance airborne lasercom terminal, design of lasercom interoperability standards, development of a test capability to validate interoperability among various contractor-produced terminals, and investigation of techniques to enable multiple simultaneous lasercom links through a single aperture.
Group 67—Optical Communications Technology
The Optical Communications Technology Group develops advanced laser communications technology for many applications. Research in optical switching and optical logic supports the development of future ultra-high-speed, all-optical routing. Research in superconducting, single-photon-counting detectors, novel modulation formats, and coding supports the development of future high-data-rate, interplanetary laser communications links. These technologies support the most sensitive optical communications links ever developed, enabling communication of several bits per detected photon across vast distances.
Engineering-Division 7
The Engineering Division performs rapid development and large system demonstrations through design, analysis, hardware fabrication, and testing support. The division’s expertise includes mechanical, fabrication, aero, thermal, optical, and control systems engineering. The division’s groups work in teams supporting a wide range of projects, including communications systems, missile defense testing, pointing and tracking systems, aircraft and satellite payload design, and optical systems. Special emphasis is placed on the ability to meld design and analysis capabilities to support the rapid prototyping of hardware systems.
Group 71—Mechanical Engineering
The Mechanical Engineering Group has expertise in static, dynamic, and thermo-elastic analyses; tribology; and mechanical design for systems ranging from large antenna structures to mechanisms and optical systems. The group is the Engineering Division’s center for 3D computer-aided design. It also provides electronics packaging and cable design for airborne and space systems. Example projects include airborne and space-based laser communications systems, biological agent detectors and identifiers, and large radar antenna systems.
Group 72—Fabrication Engineering
The Fabrication Engineering Group provides fabrication engineering for both mechanical and electronic projects. The group is involved from the initial design through manufacturing, assembly, integration, and test. Facilities include a machine shop with a wide range of computer-aided machine tools, plus sheet metal, welding, and polymer facilities. In the electronics area, capabilities include circuit-board design, assembly, and inspection. The group also supports the Laboratory’s environmental test requirements with vibration shakers, thermal chambers, vacuum chambers, and clean rooms.
Group 73—Aerospace Engineering
The Aerospace Engineering Group has expertise in the areas of low-speed to hypersonic aerodynamics and aero-thermal analyses, wind tunnel, arc jet testing, and flight testing. The group has extensive experience in missile payload design and is also responsible for thermal engineering applied to terrestrial, airborne, and space systems. Example projects include missile defense payload development and testing, missile-borne target development for high-energy lasers, and computational fluid dynamics modeling of building interiors for biodefense.
Group 75—Optical Systems Engineering
The Optical Systems Engineering Group applies various aspects of mechanical and optical engineering to the development of space-borne, airborne, and terrestrial optical systems. Expertise includes integrated analysis capabilities combining structural and thermal analyses with optical ray tracing, as well as stray light and optical performance analyses. These analysis tools support opto-mechanical design and a wide range of testing activities. Example projects include satellite passive imaging sensors, optics for space and ground laser communications systems, and airborne laser radar and imaging systems on both manned and unmanned aircraft. The group also has specialized expertise in very dense, multichip module electronics packaging for radar and processor systems.
Group 76—Control Systems Engineering
The Control Systems Engineering Group has expertise in pointing and stabilization for radars and optical systems, embedded servo control systems, space-qualified electronics, real-time programming, airborne stabilization systems, mechanism control, and power electronics. Example projects include controller, power, and telemetry electronics hardware and software for Laboratory space payloads; stabilization and pointing control systems for airborne laser radars and imaging sensors; and pointing and stabilization systems for terrestrial and shipboard radar antennas. The group is also heavily involved in the development and testing of a wide variety of missile defense payloads.
Solid State-Division 8
The Solid State Division performs research and development on component and subsystem-level technologies which can enable new approaches to DoD systems and which advance the state of the art for U.S. industry. This division’s expertise covers a wide front including biology, chemistry, computer science, device physics, integrated circuit design and fabrication, high performance imagers, lithography, materials, nanofabrication, lasers and optics, optoelectronics, packaging, photonics, quantum information systems, and RF technology. The Solid State Division strives to understand DoD systems and develops technologies “which will make a difference.”
Group 81—Submicrometer Technology
The Submicrometer Technology Group develops concepts, equipment, materials, and processes for nanoscale fabrication. This group also applies chemistry to sensing applications and to emerging areas. Examples of research activities include pioneering the development of 193nm wavelength lithography (now commercial) and liquid immersion lithography (in development, joint with industry). Work continues on materials and process issues associated with the development of 157nm lithography and immersion lithography. Chemistry-focused work includes the synthesis and formulation of advanced photoresists, characterization of chemical sensors, and surface chemistry. Lithographic and microfabrication technologies are applied to such varied uses as photonic devices, advanced field effect transistors, and microelectromechanical system devices.
Group 82—Laser Technology and Applications
The Laser Technology and Applications Group develops application-specific solid-state lasers, beam control and diagnostics for high-energy laser systems, and optically based bio and chemical agent sensors for DoD applications. Examples of research activities include creating new microchip-laser-based illuminators for sensor applications, demonstrating spectral and coherent laser-beam-combining techniques, developing tracking algorithms for use with 3D lidar systems, and developing high-discrimination bio-aerosol sensors. These activities span the range from laser device development to optical subsystems through complete optical sensors.
Group 83—Electro-Optical Materials and Devices
The Electro-Optical Materials and Devices Group develops compound semiconductor materials and devices. This group also develops and applies photonic components including semiconductor lasers, amplifiers, and detectors for enhancing the capabilities of DoD systems. Examples of research activities include high-brightness and high-power diode lasers, vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers, quantum cascade lasers, photon-counting avalanche photodiodes, mid-infrared lasers and detectors, and thermoelectric and energy conversion devices. Disciplines span from epitaxial materials research, growth, and characterization, through electronic and photonic device modeling, design, fabrication, testing, and subsystem integration.
Group 84—Biosensor and Molecular Technologies
The Biosensor and Molecular Technologies Group combines molecular and cell biology with various engineering disciplines, enabling the development of new technologies of DoD importance such as biodefense sensors, diagnostic and forensic methods, and power sources. Examples of research activities include demonstration of new classes of biosensors using living cells as the sensing element, development of improved processes and protocols for sensing DNA and RNA, and the demonstration of new concepts for integration of biology with electronic, optical, and microfluidic microsystems.
Group 86—Analog Device Technology
The Analog Device Technology Group performs analog component research and development along with analog-centric subsystem development and demonstrations. Examples of research activities include development of high-performance mixed-signal devices such as ultra-low power and wideband A/D converters, and development of RF front-end technologies such as bulk-acoustic-wave filters, high-Tc superconductive devices, and precision packaging. Low-Tc superconductive Josephson-junction technology is being applied to research in quantum computing. Examples of subsystem development activities include wideband receivers, low-power communication receivers, and radar array modules. Work spans such diverse disciplines as analog circuit design, materials science, microfabrication process development, RF design, advanced electronic packaging technology, and quantum and solid-state physics.
Group 87—Advanced Imaging Technology
The Advanced Imaging Technology Group develops advanced silicon-based focal-plane technologies for both DoD and scientific applications, such as astronomy, remote sensing, and adaptive optics. Focal planes may address special requirements (for example, multiple or very high-speed image samples), time-of-arrival imaging (LADAR receiver), or high quantum-efficiency or very low noise applications. Examples of research activities include design, fabrication, and testing of world-class CCD imaging devices used in a variety of high-end scientific applications (for example, the focal planes for the Chandra X-ray telescope and various major telescopes), demonstration of silicon-based photon-counting detector arrays, and development of unique active-pixel sensors.
Group 88—Advanced Silicon Technology
The Advanced Silicon Technology Group applies its silicon microelectronics capabilities to develop new electronic, microelectromechanical structures and optical devices, with a special focus on silicon-on-insulator complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology. Examples of research activities include demonstration of new processes enabling 3D integration of multiple layers of silicon-on-insulator circuits with applications to advanced focal planes and 3D computing architectures, demonstration of approaches to scaling silicon devices into the nanometer regime, and development of microelectromechanical structure devices for RF and optical-switching applications. Work spans from device design and device physics, through integrated circuit design, process development, packaging, and testing.
Aerospace-Division 9
The Aerospace Division develops sensors, technologies, and systems that help to strengthen national security. Focus areas are space control and environmental monitoring. The division’s work includes development of system concepts, hardware demonstrations, and technology transfer to industry. The primary technology focus is the application of new components and algorithms to enable sensors with greatly enhanced capabilities.
Group 91—Space Control Systems
The Space Control Systems Group develops technology and techniques for space control and space surveillance missions. The group has its roots in the development of technology to detect, track, and characterize satellites, including the Ground Based Electro-Optical Deep-Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) and the Millstone Hill Radar. The group is currently developing a technology prototype for a unique, large, ground-based Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) to provide a wide-area search capability for small microsatellites in deep space. The group also supports the development and demonstration of a space-based optical system for space surveillance and provides technical support to the Government for the procurement of an operational constellation to perform this task in the future. The group also operates an extensive observational program utilizing space surveillance technology to search for and discover near-Earth asteroids at its electro-optical field site near Socorro, New Mexico. This program, Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR), has discovered more than 50% of the known asteroids in our solar system. The group’s core talents are also applied to other mission areas, including the development and demonstration of data fusion and discrimination algorithms for missile defense. Finally, the group’s activities include substantial efforts in the modeling and evaluation of technology for new space systems, sensor data collection by radar, and visible and infrared optical systems.
Group 92—Aerospace Sensor Technology
The Aerospace Sensor Technology Group develops sensor technology for aerospace applications. Current emphasis is on advanced wideband radar systems for space-object imaging and exploitation of radar and optical data. A major ongoing effort in the group is the development of a wideband radar system for timely on-demand imaging of small satellites in orbits ranging from low-Earth to geosynchronous (40,000 km range). The new radar will operate in the 92–100 GHz band and will achieve an order of magnitude improvement in inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image quality. Other areas of research include 3D imaging of space objects using interferometric ISAR techniques and fusion of optical and 3D ISAR data. The group is also responsible for technology development and upgrades to the Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex (LSSC), an operational test bed for radar technology and space situational awareness comprising the Haystack, Haystack Auxiliary, and Millstone radars in Westford, Massachusetts.
Group 93—Space Situational Awareness
There are currently more than 12,000 objects in Earth’s orbit, ranging in importance from operational satellites to orbital debris. In order to monitor this large population, the Space Situational Awareness Group develops sensors, algorithms, techniques, and operational concepts to track and characterize these objects. The group operates the Lincoln Space Surveillance Complex (LSSC), comprising the Millstone deep-space satellite tracking radar and the Haystack and Haystack Auxiliary wideband satellite imaging radars. These radars, which are used daily, are remotely controlled from the Lexington Space Situational Awareness Center (LSSAC), which serves as a data processing and fusion node for the LSSC and other ground- and space-based space surveillance sensors. Together, the LSSC and LSSAC serve as an operational test bed for space situational awareness technologies and provide access to a rich set of radar and optical data. The group’s current research and development efforts focus on problems such as tracking and identification of newly launched satellites, tracking and discrimination of satellites in geosynchronous clusters, automated radar image exploitation, close approach monitoring and collision warning, applications of multisensor data fusion, and decision support. The group is also developing a web-based, service-oriented architecture that networks all these capabilities together in an integrated information system.
Group 95—Space Systems Analysis
The Space Systems Analysis Group identifies and evaluates threats to U.S. use of space for military, intelligence, civil, and commercial purposes. This work involves understanding the attributes and vulnerabilities of U.S. space-related systems, including the sensors and networks used to detect, track, and characterize objects in space, the satellites that provide space-based services, and the infrastructure used to control and operate these satellites. A central component of this effort involves consideration of how adversaries might try to exploit vulnerabilities and technically evaluating the knowledge and resources required to mount a credible threat against U.S. systems. The group also develops concepts for reducing U.S. vulnerabilities to these identified threats. This work requires detailed modeling of optical, radar, and propulsion systems; novel ideas for new space systems and on-orbit operations; and consideration of the timelines, architectures, and decision-making processes for maintaining awareness of the space environment. In addition, the group pursues potentially game-changing, innovative ideas for remote sensing of space and the Earth. This part of our work involves sensor design, signal and image processing as well as target and environmental phenomenology. The group seeks researchers from the physical sciences, including physics, mathematics, and chemistry, as well as from a wide range of engineering disciplines (including electrical, computer, mechanical, chemical, aeronautical, and astronautical).
Group 97—Sensor Technology and System Applications
The Sensor Technology and System Applications Group develops environmental monitoring electro-optical (EO) infrared (IR) sensor systems for detecting and tracking natural and man-made phenomena. As such, this group’s activities include the extraction of target and feature information from airborne and space-borne hyperspectral imagery; system support of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) environmental satellites in performance analysis and improvement of existing sensors and products; architecture definition and sensor development support for the next-generation NOAA satellite systems; and chemical and biological agent detection sensor and system development. Work includes EO IR sensor design, system and architecture analysis, signal processing, data analysis, and algorithm development.
Group 99—Advanced Space Systems and Concepts
The Advanced Space Systems and Concepts Group’s expertise includes advanced passive imaging system hardware development and video-processing technology research and development. These areas of expertise are used to support the development of advanced system concepts (architecture definition; prototype design; and hardware, algorithm, and software fabrication) for Department of Defense and NASA sponsors.
ISR Systems and Technology—Division 10
The Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems and Technology Division is engaged in the development of advanced sensors and sensor technologies for undersea, surface, airborne, and space-based mission applications. Efforts span a variety of disciplines including systems analysis, signal and image processing, advanced sensor concepts, signal processor hardware and software design and development, large-scale system prototyping, and field-testing and data analysis.
Group 101—ISR Systems and Architectures
The ISR Systems and Architectures Group focuses on analysis and evaluation of ISR systems and architectures. The goal of the group is to provide systems analyses support to Lincoln Laboratory’s ISR Enterprises, focused in Division 10, as well as directly support sponsor studies. Activities include trade studies to compare alternative ISR systems and architectures, including the formulation of Concepts of Operations for, and performance assessment of integrated multi-sensor and exploitation systems. Analytic methods as well as modeling and simulation are applied to obtain quantitative evaluation of alternative system concepts and architectures. This evaluation includes the impact of environmental factors and target and clutter phenomenology. In addition, data collection experiments and field exercises are defined to augment the analysis effort, including the formulation and execution of red-blue exercises to test and validate predicted system capabilities.
Group 102—Embedded Digital Systems
The Embedded Digital Systems Group concentrates on delivering real-time embedded processing for a broad spectrum of military applications. This group is involved in hardware architecture design, embedded software engineering, and signal processing analysis applied to a wide range of platforms that run the gamut from space-based radars, airborne radars and missiles, to ship-borne systems, submarines, and torpedoes. The group’s expertise is both in full system-level prototyping as well as advanced enabling hardware and software technology. The group’s charter is focused on providing high-level, cross-platform designs across the entire spectrum of high-performance embedded architectures and applications. The group produces some of the world’s highest-performance digital signal processor hardware technology. At the same time, it is a leader in software engineering initiatives that are revolutionizing high-level, middleware approaches to provide full portability across platforms, improved performance, and enhanced programmer productivity. Through the application of its multidisciplinary approach, the group is able to address evermore sophisticated processing requirements, matching challenging signal processing applications to enabling technologies ranging from VLSI application-specific integrated circuits and field programmable gate arrays through to large-scale parallel signal processors.
Group 103—Advanced Sensor Techniques
The Advanced Sensor Techniques Group concentrates on developing and demonstrating new signal, image, and data-processing algorithms for a broad range of sensor systems applications that include airborne and space-based radar, passive sonar, advanced wireless communications, signals intelligence, and robust navigation. The group’s charter is to detect, classify, and locate signals of interest in difficult propagation and interference environments. The staff has expertise in adaptive sensor array processing, detection and estimation, pattern recognition, electromagnetics, underwater acoustics, and systems analysis. Our staff hold advanced degrees in electrical engineering, physics, and applied mathematics. This group is engaged in a significant amount of field testing and data collection to prove new concepts, and works with other groups within the division in real-time prototype implementation, experiment conduct, and systems analysis.
Group 104—Intelligence and Decision Technologies
The Integrated Sensing and Decision Support (ISDS) Group develops advanced technologies for processing and integrating data from a variety of sensors, such as radar, electro-optic, video, etc., to extract information about targets and areas of interest on the Earth’s surface that are important to decision makers. A key aspect of this work focuses on the development of systems architectures, procedures, and algorithms for the efficient and timely distribution of this information to analysts and decision makers. Technologies include multisensor integration and data fusion, and algorithms for knowledge management and decision support to turn high-volume sensor data streams into tactically useful information. Group programs include analysis of airborne and space-based ground surveillance radars for broad-area imaging and moving-target detection; network-centric sensor architectures; sensor data exploitation; full-scale sensor grid experimentation; and software development to implement architectures and techniques for integrated sensing and decision support. Technical areas of staff expertise include systems analysis, modeling and simulation, feature extraction and pattern analysis using multisensor data, information-theoretic analysis of decision processes, and design, execution, and analysis of laboratory and field experiments.
Group 105—Advanced Sensing and Exploitation
The Advanced Sensing and Exploitation Group develops technology solutions for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance-oriented missions with emphasis on RF sensing, signal processing, target feature exploitation, and prototype system development. Challenging defense-related problems are analyzed from a system-level perspective, and innovative solutions that typically require small size, low weight, and low power consumption form the basis for several key program development thrusts. For example, custom RF front-end hardware such as ultra-wideband multifunction antenna arrays and VLSI-based digital receivers are developed for military platforms ranging from ground vehicles to unmanned aerial vehicles. The group synergistically combines hardware with digital signal processing to enable new radar and intelligence collection capabilities. The group is now moving beyond classical radar signal detection and imaging to develop concepts that utilize target features and data fusion from multiple sensor types to enhance detection and tracking in challenging (e.g., dense urban) environments. The group’s programs typically involve prototype system development, which culminate in ground-based or airborne field testing. Our RF test chambers and rapid prototyping facilities give us a unique capability to develop and demonstrate new concepts for a wide variety of technical problems. Principal group staff expertise includes system engineering, digital signal processing, EM analysis and antenna design, RF IC and receiver design, experimental physics, and hardware development and integration.
Group 106—Active Optical Systems
The Active Optical Systems Group’s mission is to be a laser radar center of excellence through the development of advanced laser radar concepts. One of the major thrust areas in technology development involves three-dimensional (3D) laser radar. These systems employ a novel receiver technology using arrays of single-photon-sensitive detectors. The group is currently involved in the development and operation of airborne and ground-based 3D laser radars along with data collection, data exploitation, and simulation and modeling efforts for various applications. The group also has significant efforts in the area of coherent laser radar. These include the adoption of advanced radar techniques to the optical regime, pushing the bandwidth of coherent systems into the THz regime, and the use of photon-counting detector arrays for coherent receivers. These efforts span the range from laboratory demonstrations to fieldable systems development. The group is also developing technologies to enable remote sensing systems in the near-optical THz regime. This includes both receiver and source development for integrated remote sensing systems.
Service Departments
Contracting Services
The Contracting Services Department is responsible for the procurement of goods and services for the Laboratory. The department solicits, awards, and administers purchase orders and subcontracts to support Lincoln Laboratory's operations and core research. In addition, the office administers a number of authorized technology transfer programs with industry sponsors. The department's Small Business Liaison Officer works to maximize the small-business opportunities for all Laboratory procurements.
Facility Services
The Facility Services Department is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the complex in support of the research mission. It also furnishes the design, engineering, and construction needs of the Laboratory, addressing its ever-changing program requirements. The department’s overarching goal is to provide prompt, quality service in a wide spectrum of responsibilities in compliance with State and Federal codes and manage many services that impact the workplace quality of life for the Laboratory’s population.
Financial Services
The accounting and finance team's goal is to provide efficient, streamlined, and on-time services to the Laboratory supporting improved program execution with accurate budgeting, accounting, reporting, and decision making for each level of the management structure. The Financial Services Department continues to improve processes leveraging people and the business information system to deliver concise, actionable financial information for the future.
Human Resources
The Human Resources Department is responsible for the delivery of human resource-related services for the Laboratory. These services include recruiting, employee relations, labor relations, compensation administration, Human Resources Information Systems, training and professional development, benefits and personnel policy administration. The Human Resources Department provides a wide variety of customer-focused services to employees and managers throughout the Laboratory.
Information Services
The Information Services Department (ISD) is responsible for providing central information technology services for the Laboratory. The department integrates core transactional and leading-edge information technologies to meet the ever-changing requirements of the Laboratory and its sponsors. ISD is customer-focused, providing high-value, cost-effective enterprise solutions and services that provide a secure and stable infrastructure as the foundation of efficient administration, information technology security, mission assurance, and research enablement.
Security Services
The overall mission of the Security Services Department is to provide the security services necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment at all facilities in which Laboratory staff members perform their mission of research and development to include formulating and implementing policies, plans, and actions designed to protect facilities against threats of vandalism, accidental destruction and sabotage. Our main priority in conducting daily operations is safeguarding personnel, property, equipment and other assets, including classified and unclassified sensitive information entrusted to the Laboratory.
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