Skip to contentSkip to footer
      employer cover photo
      employer logo
      employer logo

      MIT Lincoln Laboratory

      Part of MIT

      Engaged employer

      MIT Lincoln Laboratory reviews

      Overworked and stretched thin - Anonymous employee MIT Lincoln Laboratory Employee Review

      3.0
      Aug 12, 2013
      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      At times, a relaxed environment. Depending on your group, you won't have someone hovering over your shoulder watching you work. If you're not in a service group, you'll do interesting, fun, work. You get a DOD Security clearance. Benefits are good; 401K and Pension. Great people watching.

      Cons

      Some positions get tasked with roles that aren't in your job description. Saying 'no' is most likely going to be frowned upon. Don't get me wrong, go above and beyond, but don't be surprised when you get penalized for something you never signed on for. Didn't acquire private sector job experience. Transitioning to another job is difficult with such a broad skill set needed for MITLL. Wasn't able to specialize in one field of interest. Little room for growth. You get a DOD Security clearance. Salary was sub-par for industry. Awkward people.

      avatar
      MIT Lincoln Laboratory Response
      12y
      We are pleased that you found the benefits and retirement programs to be good. We work hard to keep a positive work-life balance and have policies in place to give managers a lot of leeway in creating the relaxed environment that you experienced. Employees can get exposure to a wide range of opportunities and experiences and we hope that they take advantage of that. Your advice to management is something that we hope is happening on on increasing basis.

      Explore other reviews about MIT Lincoln Laboratory

      5.0
      Jun 3, 2026
      Member of technical staff
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      It can vary a lot from group to group, but in general, wonderful place with wonderful people and lots of interesting work going on. Excellent benefits and lots of flexibility to explore different projects.

      Cons

      Little opportunity for advancement in terms of rank and compensation once you reach technical staff. Additionally (again varies from group to group) expectations of what a staff member does can be unclear and there can be a light sink-or-swim nature to the work, again depending on the group you're in.

      4.0
      Jun 17, 2026
      Member of technical staff
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      Worked with some of the smartest people I’ve ever known. Great opportunities to learn from your coworkers and an atmosphere that encourages learning, including a well-run technical education program. Fabulous support staff and technicians that can get seemingly impossible things done quickly. Great resources and lab spaces (if a bit dated). The nature of the work encourages good work/life balance. Fantastic benefits (though the pay is low).

      Cons

      No/limited opportunities for advancement makes this a hard place to work mid-career. Good engineers are promoted to be mediocre managers. Every program is under-funded, under-staffed, and over schedule. Bad managers are shuffled around but rarely fired.

      See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All
      Related searches: MIT Lincoln Laboratory jobs | MIT Lincoln Laboratory salaries | MIT Lincoln Laboratory benefits | MIT Lincoln Laboratory interviews
      MIT Lincoln Laboratory reviewsMIT Lincoln Laboratory reviews in LexingtonMIT Lincoln Laboratory review