Electro-Optics Systems Engineer Intern (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; McKinney (TX); On-site; USD 37,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Job summary

RTX is seeking an Electro-Optical Systems Engineer intern in McKinney, TX to support the Advanced Products & Solutions Mission Area. You will be part of a design team building imaging, EO tracking, LIDAR, and directed energy systems, translating mission requirements into system and subsystem design and IV&V plans.

The role requires pursuing a STEM degree with hands-on optics experience, programming in C++/Python, and comfort with MATLAB data analysis.

Qualifications

• Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Physics, Optical, Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session.
• Experience with electro-optical infrared imagery, focal plane technology, lenses, or apertures
• Experience with fundamental optical principles including geometrical optics, physical optics, imaging systems, aberrations, or detectors
• Hands-on experience through coursework or lab work with optical testing or alignment
• Must have a minimum of 60 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co-op session. Experience may be obtained through on-the-job experience, research, coursework, or projects.

Responsibilities

• The intern will be part of a design team building electro-optical systems including imagers, passive/active EO tracking, LIDAR, and directed energy systems.
• The role involves assessing mission/system requirements and deriving design and performance requirements for subsystem and unit levels.

Skills

EO imagery

Focal plane tech

Lenses

Apertures

Education

STEM degree enrollment

Tools

C++

Python

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-13 Country: United States of America Location: US-TX-MCKINNEY-513WD ~ 2501 W University Dr ~ WING D BLDG.

Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract. Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required Security Clearance Status: Not Required

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 freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

What You Will Do:

The Electro-Optical System Design Department is currently in need of an Electro Optical Systems Engineer intern to support the Advanced Products & Solutions Mission Area in the development and building of advanced electro-optical systems. The intern will be part of a design team building electro-optical systems including imagers, passive/active EO tracking, LIDAR, and directed energy systems. The systems engineer intern will be contributing to assessing systems architecture, developing requirements for these systems, and supporting the design and build efforts. It will involve being able to assess mission/system requirements and derive design and performance requirements for subsystem and unit levels. The role also involves understanding verification and test activities to assist in the creation of a proper IV&V plan meeting the requirements of the program.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Physics, Optical, Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session.
• Experience with electro-optical infrared imagery, focal plane technology, lenses, or apertures
• Experience with fundamental optical principles including geometrical optics, physical optics, imaging systems, aberrations, or detectors
• Hands-on experience through coursework or lab work with optical testing or alignment
• Must have a minimum of 60 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co-op session. Experience may be obtained through on-the-job experience, research, coursework, or projects.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Internship or project experience related to opto-mechanical engineering, photonics, infrared physics, or optical systems
• Experience with programming using C++ or Python
• Experience or coursework in signal processing, image processing, tracking, computer vision, or machine learning
• Knowledge of systems engineering architecture and design, integration and test, and verification and validation approaches
• Experience using MATLAB for data analysis and strong analytical and problem-solving skills

What We Offer:

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

The salary range for this role is 37,000 USD - 82,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role is a U.S. based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products. This position requires ability to obtain a 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.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.