Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officer OpportunityMIT Lincoln Laboratory is seeking a strategic, dynamic, and forward-looking Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead their enterprise IT organization and shape the future of information technology across the Laboratory. The CIO will serve as the senior information technology leader, responsible for guiding an innovative, comprehensive, and secure enterprise IT strategy that enables the Laboratory's scientific research, administrative operations, and overall organizational mission.MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center whose mission is to develop advanced technology in support of national security. They deliver transformative solutions to the nation's most complex and urgent technical challenges, combining scientific innovation with applied science and engineering excellence. The Laboratory distinguishes itself from many other national R&D institutions through its emphasis on building operational prototypes--turning innovative concepts into real-world systems that can be deployed and tested.The Laboratory's success in developing field-ready systems is supported by world-class facilities, such as a premier semiconductor research and fabrication lab, a flight facility with custom aircraft for airborne system testing, and New England's most powerful supercomputing center. These resources enable Lincoln Laboratory to rapidly prototype and evaluate complex technologies in realistic environments. At the heart of this innovation is a highly skilled and creative workforce that collaborates across disciplines to address diverse challengesfrom missile defense and space surveillance to secure communications and biomedical devices.The Chief Information Officer will define and execute a forward-looking IT vision and roadmap that aligns with and advances the Laboratory's mission and organizational priorities. Serving as a senior advisor to executive leadership, the CIO will provide guidance on emerging technologies, digital capabilities, infrastructure investments, and data strategy to ensure the Laboratory remains at the forefront of innovation. This role also requires building strong cross-departmental relationships to ensure IT services are responsive to evolving institutional needs, while actively collaborating with MIT Campus leadership to identify and pursue shared opportunities and infrastructure initiatives that benefit both organizations.The ideal candidate will lead a well-established and highly skilled IT organization, fostering a culture of innovation and service excellence. The CIO will collaborate closely with leaders across technical and business domains, as well as external partners, to ensure that the Laboratory's IT infrastructure effectively supports both current operations and long-term strategic objectives.The Chief Information Officer will play a vital role in enabling the Laboratory's mission by advancing research computing capabilities and fostering secure, collaborative environments for data-intensive science. This includes expanding high-performance computing resources, secure research platforms, and tools that support complex workflows and interdisciplinary collaboration. The CIO will work closely with scientific leadership to ensure that IT infrastructure is aligned with the evolving demands of cutting-edge research programs.The CIO will provide strategic leadership in cybersecurity, compliance, and enterprise risk management, working closely with the Chief Information Security Officer to develop and enforce a robust cybersecurity framework aligned with federal standards such as NIST, CMMC, DFARS, and FISMA. This role ensures that systems and processes are designed to protect sensitive research data, intellectual property, and personal information across the Laboratory.The CIO will lead the strategic direction and operational excellence of the Laboratory's enterprise systems and IT infrastructure. This includes overseeing the planning, deployment, and optimization of critical enterprise applications such as ERP systems, business intelligence tools, digital collaboration platforms, and cloud technologies. The CIO will ensure the infrastructure is secure, scalable, and reliable, supporting 24/7 operations and remote access across the organization.As the senior IT leader, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) will champion effective IT governance practices that foster transparency, strategic alignment, and cross-functional prioritization across the Laboratory. This role requires regular engagement with leaders from science, engineering, human resources, finance, facilities, and compliance to understand organizational needs and deliver integrated, mission-driven technology solutions.The Chief Information Officer will lead and cultivate a high-performing IT team by overseeing recruitment, performance management, succession planning, and staff engagement. The CIO will foster a culture rooted in collaboration, subject matter expertise, and continuous learning, ensuring the IT organization remains agile and responsive to evolving needs. By inspiring innovation and accountability across a multidisciplinary workforceincluding technologists, engineers, analysts, and support professionalsthe CIO will empower teams to deliver impactful solutions that advance the Laboratory's mission and strategic goals.Qualifications and characteristics MIT LL will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. The ideal candidate is a strategic and operational technology leader who has successfully led IT organizations in highly complex, mission-driven environments, preferably with national security, defense, or research affiliations. Required qualifications include a minimum of 12 years of progressive IT leadership experience with increasing responsibility, preferably in research, defense, national laboratories, higher education, or other secure, regulated environments. Prior C-suite level IT leadership experience is preferred. Demonstrated expertise in multiple domains of IT, including enterprise architecture, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, cybersecurity, research computing, cloud strategy, and systems integration. Experience building and leading large technical teams and managing multi-million-dollar operating budgets. Strong track record of aligning IT initiatives with strategic business or mission outcomes. Deep understanding of cybersecurity principles and federal compliance frameworks. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage, influence, and build consensus among diverse internal and external stakeholders. Bachelor's degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret level DoD security clearance.Location and compensation: MIT Lincoln Laboratory is based in Lexington, Massachusetts and this will be an onsite position. The hiring range for this role is $360,000-$410,000, commensurate with experience. 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, includingbut not limited tothe 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 Top 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: [[id]]