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      MIT Lincoln Laboratory

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      MIT Lincoln Laboratory reviews

      Formerly a Great Company - Anonymous employee MIT Lincoln Laboratory Employee Review

      2.0
      Dec 19, 2017
      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business Outlook

      Pros

      Good benefits. If you live in the MIT area, very good health insurance.

      Cons

      Salary is not commensurate with industry. We are told that since we can say we "work for MIT", our salary is less than what outside non-FFRDCs offer. There is no training for managers. Most are former technical types or engineers that have zero management experience and not competent at all in that area. I have refused to forward any resumes to HR and have told very talented people that I would not recommend MIT/LL to them so I will not submit their resume for employment. There are plenty of other work places that will provide a more satisfactory job experience. Very expensive health insurance if you don't live in the MIT area. Average monthly bill is $700 for familly health insurance with fairly large deductibles. If you work at a field site, you essentially have to subsidise your own health plan. If you can use the MIT clinic, it is great.

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      MIT Lincoln Laboratory Response
      8y
      Thank you for taking the time to comment. We are sorry that your experience did not work out as hoped. As a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, we do operate under compensation restrictions that may not be found in the commercial sector. Nonetheless, our salaries are assessed regularly and found to be competitive with industry in general. When areas are identified that are not keeping pace, we are able to correct and bring them to a competitive level. It is true that there are places where more can be made in salary and bonuses. This is offset by a highly stable work program, exceptional work-life balance, and a strong benefits program that includes both pension and 401K payments. Long term employees typically find that they are well provided for. We continually strive to improve in preparing our managers in the complexity of effective leadership and management. As a research facility, the combination of technical depth and management skills is highly desired.

      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.

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