Network Operations Engineer (SME/Technical Advisor), Tucson, AZ - Onsite

RTX; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation eligible

Benefits package

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Network Operations Principal Engineer for the Classified Infrastructure Services group in Tucson, AZ. The role requires serving as a senior technical SME to resolve escalations, lead network modernization, and ensure secure, reliable WAN/LAN operations across classified environments. Onsite position with up to 25% travel; active Secret clearance and U.S.

citizenship are required. The role emphasizes collaboration with cybersecurity, systems engineering, and program leadership to

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent with 10+ years of experience, or an advanced degree with 7+ years.
• Experience as network engineer for classified, enterprise-class Cisco-based LAN/WAN with L2/L3
• Experience with boundary protection technologies (preferably Palo Alto)
• Certification meeting 8570 IAT Level III or 8140 Advanced for Network Operations Specialist and professional Cisco certs (CCNP/CCIE)
• Active and transferable U.S. Government-issued Secret clearance; U.S. citizenship required
• Experience deploying Cisco-based technologies (SD-WAN, ISE, etc.) and modern network architecture

Responsibilities

• Provide Tier 3/4 escalation support for highly complex classified network issues.
• Lead major engineering initiatives, upgrades, and modernization across classified environments.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, procedures, and roadmaps; communicate status to executives.
• Mentor engineers and drive cross-functional collaboration to meet security and mission requirements.

Skills

Network engineering

Security clearance

SME / technical advisor

Project leadership

Education

University degree or equivalent

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

SolarWinds

Job description

Network Operations Principal Engineer

Technical Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Sr Manager, Information Workplace Services P5

Raytheon Digital Technology

Classified Transformation

Tucson, AZ - Onsite Position

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

The Classified Infrastructure Services department provides expertise in Data Center Management, Network Operations, and High-Performance Computing that our programs and Engineering teams rely on to fulfill their missions. Reporting to the Network Operations Associate Director as a Network Operations Principal Networking Engineer (P5), you will serve as the senior technical advisor (Subject Matter Expert/SME) to resolve technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions and drive network innovation, leading improvement in network performance and reliability. You will provide mentorship and technical guidance to the networking department. You will Collaborate with cross functional partners, and SBU/Program leads to identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions to transform our network operations team to new levels of excellence.

This role is primarily on-site supporting our Tucson, AZ campus locations. Travel is required throughout regional areas of responsibility (up to 25%)

What You Will Do:

The Principal Network Engineer (P5), Network Operations for Classified Infrastructure Services within Raytheon Digital Technology. This role will serve as the senior technical advisor to respond to technical or complex escalations with standard and non-standard solutions within our programs. Collaborating with a team of various levels of Network support professionals responsible for secure, reliable, scalable, and supportable network services.

This position requires the ability to identify systemic inefficiencies, delivering measurable performance improvements, identifying opportunities for innovation, providing input to review boards, and communicating with parties within and outside of own function.

This role oversees and manages major projects, ensuring all technical designs and network changes are thoroughly reviewed and properly executed. The position participates in budget planning and the development of operational guidelines, while also driving the creation of new standard operating procedures and team practices. The principal engineer will provide leadership with clear presentations and status updates on key project initiatives and will be responsible for implementing new technology innovations across the organization. Relocation may be available if the selected applicant meets company policy criteria.

Functional Strategy

This principal network engineer should be a recognized SME within discipline, having deep knowledge of organizational practices within a specific discipline. Will drive the development and implementation of new products, processes, standards, and operational plans that deliver measurable impact on functional goals and enterprise performance.

Organizational Impact

Owns and develops key components of functional strategy and short‑to medium‑term operational goals (1–2 years), directing impactful activities and implementing new products, processes, policies, standards, or operating plans aligned to the functional strategy.

Problem Solving & complexity

Solves numerous complex and often undefined problems requiring extensive investigation and deep root‑cause analysis across functions and programs. Drives improvement of existing systems and processes through advanced conceptual reasoning and integration of industry best practices. Provides Tier 3/4 escalation support for highly complex classified network issues, leading deep technical troubleshooting across routing, switching, firewalls, segmentation, encryption devices, WAN circuits, and secure communication systems. Engineer novel solutions for emerging mission requirements, system integrations, and high‑availability architectures while conducting advanced technology evaluations, trade studies, and recommendations for secure networking capabilities.

Communication and Influence

Collaborates with Cybersecurity, Systems Engineering, Operations, and external partners to ensure network solutions meet enterprise, mission, and security requirements. Interfaces directly with teams outside your organization to align designs, requirements, and technical implementation across programs. Actively participates in major design forums, technical working groups, and engineering review boards, providing senior engineering expertise for proposals and new program captures. Communicates effectively with stakeholders inside and outside the organization—including customers and vendors—and influences adoption of new concepts, practices, and approaches. Regularly briefs executive leadership on matters of significant organizational impact.

Leadership & Talent Management

Develops annual strategic plans and technical vision aligned with functional and program goals, while owning multi‑year network engineering and technology refresh roadmaps that guide lifecycle management and modernization. Leads major engineering initiatives across classified environments—including upgrades, redesigns, segmentation enhancements, secure communications improvements, and WAN/transport modernization—and drives simplification, resiliency, and modernization across engineering processes and systems.

Knowledge & Experience

Demonstrates expert‑level mastery of the functional domain, supported by advanced education and extensive experience (typically 10+ years, or 7+ with an advanced degree), with deep knowledge of related disciplines and the ability to assess cross‑functional impacts. Provides strong team leadership through mentoring engineers and junior technical staff, developing training plans to strengthen technical capability, and owning the refinement and creation of engineering SOPs, processes, and best practices. Regularly communicates technical status, major engineering decisions, and strategic updates to executives and senior leadership.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a University Degree or equivalent experience and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience, or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years’ experience
• Experience as network engineer for classified, enterprise‑class Cisco‑based Local and Wide Area Networks (LAN/WAN) with in‑depth Layer 2 and Layer 3 experience
• Experience with boundary protection technologies (preferably Palo Alto)
• Integrate new capabilities including hardware, software, operating systems, and applications leveraging knowledge across all digital domains to speed deployment.
• Certification meeting 8570 IAT Level III or 8140 Advanced for Network Operations Specialist (e.g. CCNP Security, CISSP, or CASP+) and Professional‑or Expert‑level Cisco certification (e.g. CCNP or CCIE)
• Active and transferable U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
• Experience deploying and operating a variety of Cisco‑based technologies (You should have 2 or more of the following):
• Software Defined Networking (SD‑WAN (preferred), Catalyst Center/SD‑Access, and Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI))
• Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for 802.1x and AAA
• _ Cisco Unified Communications Manager and/or Cisco Meeting Serve _ r

Qualifications We Prefer

• Strong communication skills, with ability to influence and drive change with peers and leaders across the organization.
• Experience as an SME or technical advisor in a fast‑paced program environment.
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• Demonstrated success in managing projects and leading change efforts in a Digital Technology domain.
• Extensive experience of critical infrastructure systems such as Microsoft Active Directory Services (AD, DNS, CS, etc.), Linux configuration and operation, ESXi, and NAS/SAN
• Experience installing and operating SNMP‑based network management tools (e.g. SolarWinds)
• Experience briefing senior leaders on projects
• Certified RTX CORE Professional or higher
• Active and transferable U.S. Government issued Top Secret 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.
• Relocation - this role is relocation eligible if the applicant meets company policy criteria.

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

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.

For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

_ As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attendselect 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 132,400 USD - 251,600 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.

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