Associate Director, AI Application Engineer

Raytheon; McKinney (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Raytheon, a leading aerospace and defense company, seeks an experienced Associate Director– AI Application Engineer to drive applied AI innovation across classified and unclassified environments. You will contribute hands-on development, enablement, and secure deployment of AI/ML capabilities, delivering real value to programs.

The role requires extensive AI experience, leadership of workstreams, and a TS/SCI clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree with a minimum of 12 years’ relevant experience.
• Experience as an AI Practitioner applying AI technologies to solve challenges including SW Dev, SW Security, automation and operational workflows
• Experience with delivery of production AI systems
• Experience designing, training, and deploying Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced machine‑learning models, including implementing secure ML Ops and DevSecOps practices
• Experience with Python and modern machine -learning frameworks
• Experience deploying AI in cloud and constrained/embedded environments.
• Experience leading workstreams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government issued TS/SCI security clearance after day 1. U.S. Citizenship is required as only US Citizens can acquire clearance

Responsibilities

• Integrate and deploy AI/ML models, especially Large Language Models (LLMs) and emerging architectures
• Build and operate secure AI pipelines across cloud, tactical, and embedded environments
• Transition prototypes into production systems; support applied research maturation
• Provide organizational enablement through guidance, training, and best practices
• Collaborate across engineering, research, program leadership, and customers
• Evaluate new technologies, ensuring compliance with security and government standards
• Contribute to proposals and technical communication
• Design, integrate, and govern agentic AI systems with guardrails and operational safety
• Apply agent-based workflows that improve engineering and mission execution

Skills

AI Practitioner

Lead workstreams

Delivery of AI systems

Secure ML Ops

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Python

ML Frameworks

Cloud Deployment

Job description

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedom and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Raytheon Software Engineering is seeking an experienced and delivery-focused Associate Director– Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application Engineer to drive applied AI innovation across classified and unclassified environments. This individual will directly contribute to hands-on development, organizational enablement, secure deployment of AI/Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, and advanced research transition. The ideal candidate is not a theorist but a proven executor who delivers real capability into programs and generates business value.

What You Will Do

• Integrate and deploy AI/ML models, especially Large Language Models (LLMs) and emerging architectures
• Build and operate secure AI pipelines across cloud, tactical, and embedded environments
• Transition prototypes into production systems; support applied research maturation
• Provide organizational enablement through guidance, training, and best practices
• Collaborate across engineering, research, program leadership, and customers
• Evaluate new technologies, ensuring compliance with security and government standards
• Contribute to proposals and technical communication
• Design, integrate, and govern agentic AI systems with guardrails and operational safety
• Apply agent-based workflows that improve engineering and mission execution

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a STEM degree with a minimum of 12 years’ relevant experience
• Experience as an AI Practitioner applying AI technologies to solve challenges including SW Dev, SW Security, automation and operational workflows
• Experience with delivery of production AI systems
• Experience designing, training, and deploying Large Language Models (LLMs) and advanced machine‑learning models, including implementing secure ML Ops and DevSecOps practices
• Experience with Python and modern machine -learning frameworks
• Experience deploying AI in cloud and constrained/embedded environments.
• Experience leading workstreams
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government issued TS/SCI security clearance after day 1. U.S. Citizenship is required as only US Citizens can acquire clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with delivery of production AI systems
• Classified program experience
• Embedded AI optimization experience
• Integration of AI into legacy/multi-domain systems
• Familiarity with government AI assurance and safety standards
• Active U.S. Government issued TS/SCI security clearance

What We Offer

• Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation

This position requires security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

Locations : McKinney, TX Tucson, AZ Tewksbury, MA