Electro-Optics Systems Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)

Prattwhitney; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Holidays

Job summary

RTX seeks an Electro‑Optical Systems Engineer Intern to support the Advanced Products & Solutions Mission Area in developing and building advanced electro‑optical systems, including imagers, LIDAR, and directed energy components. You will assess mission requirements, derive subsystem performance specs, and contribute to verification plans, collaborating with a cross‑functional team at Goleta.

Ideal candidates are pursuing a STEM degree, with hands‑on optical testing or alignment experience and

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in STEM and enrolled through the internship/co-op.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours by the start of the internship/co-op session.
• Experience with electro‑optical infrared imagery or focal plane technology.
• Solid understanding of geometrical optics and physical optics.
• Hands-on optical testing or alignment experience.

Responsibilities

• Support architecture assessment and derive subsystem requirements.
• Develop performance requirements for EO systems.
• Assist IV&V planning and verification activities.

Skills

EOIR imagery

Focal planes

Lenses

Apertures

Geometrical optics

Physical optics

Imaging systems

Aberrations

Detectors

Optical testing

Alignment

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C++

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-14 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-GOLETA-H01 ~ 6380 Hollister Ave ~ BLDG H01 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

Are you ready to explore the world of aerospace and defense? Do you want to learn from and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the industry? At RTX, our internships, co‑ops and full‑time careers provide an exceptional foundation to work on complex problems, advance your skills and create a safer, more connected world. Discover opportunities to make a difference at RTX.

What You Will Do

The Electro‑Optical System Design Department is currently in need for 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 systems engineer 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.

Typical Roles

• EOS System Architects
• System Design Engineers
• Integrated Product Team Leadership
• Lead Systems Engineers
• Chief Engineers
• Requirements Engineers
• EO Systems Analysts

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.
• Must have a minimum of 30 hours of credit by the start 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.
• Experience may be obtained through job experience, research, coursework, or projects.

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.

Relocation Eligibility

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 here: Security Clearance FAQs - United States Department of State. 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.

The salary range for this role is 42,000 USD - 88,000 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.

• 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
• 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.

Company Overview

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.