Lead Photonics Systems Architect: Laser & RF (Top Secret)

RTX; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 173,000 - 329,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Eligible

Job summary

RTX is seeking a senior technical leader to serve as the authority for laser, optical, and RF photonic systems across multiple programs. You will architect integrated optical/RF platforms and lead end‑to‑end system engineering, including testing, verification, and embedded control development.

You will mentor engineers, drive prototyping, and collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, and government stakeholders to deliver production‑ready solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics or related field.
• 15+ years designing laser, optical and electro‑optical systems for defense or high‑reliability uses.
• Experience integrating RF photonics with laser and optical subsystems.
• Embedded firmware development for high‑speed optical/RF control systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical authority for laser, photonic, and RF photonic systems across programs.
• Architect integrated optical/RF systems with high‑power fiber lasers and related subsystems.
• Lead end‑to‑end system engineering including link budgets, propagation modeling, and modulation.
• Direct development of embedded control algorithms for photonic subsystems.
• Drive lab prototyping, alignment, verification, and optical test activities.
• Mentor junior engineers and grow photonics capability across the organization.

Skills

Laser/optical system design

RF photonics

System engineering leadership

Mentoring engineers

Education

Electrical Engineering / Physics / Photonics degree

Tools

RF photonics lab equipment

Job description

RTX is seeking a senior technical leader to serve as the authority for laser, optical, and RF photonic systems across multiple programs. You will architect integrated optical/RF platforms and lead end‑to‑end system engineering, including testing, verification, and embedded control development.

You will mentor engineers, drive prototyping, and collaborate with manufacturing, supply chain, and government stakeholders to deliver production‑ready solutions.