Principal Engineer (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Pratt & Whitney in Las Cruces, New Mexico seeks a Mission Lead to oversee satellite Operations and Maintenance in a 24/7 environment. You will mentor a team of operators, coordinate with program leadership, and drive process improvements to ensure mission success.

This role requires an active TS/SCI CI Poly clearance, U.S. citizenship, and 8+ years of engineering leadership experience. Occasional travel and relocation assistance may be offered to support mission needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) preferred and 8+ years of engineering or equivalent experience.
• Active, transferable TS/SCI CI Poly security clearance required before start date.
• U.S. citizenship required for eligibility for security clearance.
• Experience leading teams or projects in technical/operational environments.
• Ability to interpret and execute complex technical instructions with high accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development, implementation, and execution of daily mission operations plans using advanced software and hardware systems.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for anomaly resolution and coordinate corrective actions to ensure mission continuity.
• Provide technical guidance to the team leveraging procedures, hardware subsystems, and operational processes.
• Lead cross-training efforts and certify team members in operational positions.
• Mentor and develop team members to ensure mission readiness and professional growth.
• Collaborate with program leadership to identify and implement process improvements for supported missions.
• Support testing, readiness, and training for new ground software and hardware systems.
• Coordinate interactions with mission stakeholders to ensure alignment and success.
• Travel periodically to support cross-site collaboration and mission integration.

Skills

Team leadership

Operations planning

Anomaly resolution

Technical guidance

Cross-training

Mentoring

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s in STEM

Tools

Perl

Python

UNIX

Windows

VBA

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-03 Country: United States of America Location: US-NM-LAS CRUCES-12400-CUST ~ 12400 NASA Rd ~ ASFCF CTR (External Site) Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Security Clearance Type: TS/SCI with CI Poly - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

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 is seeking a Mission Lead to oversee satellite Operations and Maintenance (O&M) in a 24/7 operations environment. This role will provide leadership to a skilled O&M team responsible for Operations Planning and Command and Control activities. The Mission Lead will serve as the primary point of contact for mission operations, ensuring mission success through oversight of team performance, identifying and resolving complex challenges, and driving operational excellence. The position requires availability to work overtime, non-scheduled call-ins, and a combination of day staff and shift schedules, assigned based on mission and team needs. As a Mission Lead, you will be responsible for mentoring and guiding a team of operators, collaborating across multiple teams, prioritizing program-level objectives, and ensuring the successful execution of mission-critical operations. You will work in a dynamic and adaptable environment, with opportunities to implement innovative solutions and process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Location

Las Cruces, New Mexico

What You Will Do

• Oversee the development, implementation, and execution of daily mission operations plans using advanced software and hardware systems.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for anomaly resolution, implementing contingency plans, and coordinating corrective actions to ensure mission continuity.
• Provide technical guidance to the team by leveraging in-depth knowledge of formal procedures, hardware subsystems, and operational processes.
• Lead cross-training efforts and certify team members in operational positions.
• Mentor and develop team members to ensure mission readiness and professional growth.
• Collaborate with program leadership to identify, prioritize, and implement process improvements relevant to the supported missions.
• Support testing, readiness, and training activities for new ground software and hardware systems.
• Coordinate and lead interactions with mission stakeholders, including customers, factory teams, and other site personnel to ensure alignment and mission success.
• Travel periodically to support cross-site collaboration, training, and mission integration activities.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s in science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM preferred) and a minimum of 8 years of prior engineering experience or equivalent experience.
• Experience leading teams or projects in a technical or operational environment.
• Experience assessing and solving complex technical challenges under time-critical conditions.
• Experience training and certification in an operational position.
• Experience interpreting and executing technical instructions, processes, and procedures with a high degree of accuracy.
• An active and transferable TS/SCI CI Poly U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for the required security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience leading a team in a 24/7 operations environment with a rotating shift schedule.
• Working in a virtual team environment
• Proficient use of both Windows and UNIX operating systems
• Experience with Perl, Python, VBA, and/or other scripting languages
• Knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite
• Experience in the aerospace or defense industry, military operations, or satellite operations.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and their application in an operational environment.

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 Eligible – Relocation assistance available.

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.

• 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 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.

Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms 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.