Principal Signal Processing / Controls Engineer

Prattwhitney; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

RTX BBN Technologies in Cambridge, MA seeks an experienced engineer focused on signal processing, sensing, and control systems design. You will develop models, validate with real data, and prototype solutions for government and commercial customers.

The role requires deep expertise in MATLAB/Simulink, data analysis, and hardware-in-the-loop testing, with responsibilities spanning design, testing, and customer-facing technical contributions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field with 8+ years of experience.
• Master's degree in an applicable discipline with 5+ years of experience.
• PhD graduate with 3+ years of experience.
• Knowledge in physics and physical systems, dynamics, control theory, and signal processing.
• Experience developing signal processing algorithms and implementing physics-based models in MATLAB/Simulink.
• Hands-on experience with experimental equipment to collect and analyze data sets.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Developing structural dynamic and acoustic models and related signal processing schemes.
• Performing data analysis, including spectral processing and transfer function analysis, as well as data-driven simulations.
• Developing control systems and architectures to affect performance of physical systems.
• Supporting real time implementation and evaluation of designs in realistic mission scenarios.
• Developing sophisticated detection and classification algorithms against state-of-the-art threats.
• Developing prototype proof-of-concept systems to address clients' problems.
• Plan/direct/coordinate tasks or small projects involving multiple individuals.
• Contribute to proposals and white papers; present to customers.

Skills

Signal processing

Sensing

Control systems design

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C

C++

Data analysis

Spectral processing

Transfer function analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field

Master's degree in an applicable discipline

PhD graduate

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-12 Country: United States of America Location: US-MA-CAMBRIDGE-BBN01 ~ 10 & 50 Moulton St ~ MOULTON B2 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: DoD Clearance: Secret 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. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Role Overview

RTX BBN Technologies is one of RTX’s premier research and development centers providing advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. Our diverse research portfolio combines the best technologies to deliver innovative, custom solutions with real-world benefit. At RTX BBN Technologies, we develop new science by applying radical cross-disciplinary techniques to prototype systems in order to prove concept viability. This is especially evident in our Physical Systems and Sciences group, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where scientists and engineers anticipate the future in both very large and very small-scale scientific systems that often need to survive challenging operational environments. We are seeking an experienced engineer with research interests in signal processing, sensing, and control systems design / implementation to join our Physical Sciences and Systems group in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Our world-class team works with a broad range of Government agencies to solve problems that are both technically challenging and have a real operational impact.

What You Will Do

• Developing structural dynamic and acoustic models and related signal processing schemes
• Performing data analysis, including spectral processing and transfer function analysis, as well as data-driven simulations
• Developing control systems and architectures to affect performance of physical systems
• Supporting real time implementation and evaluation of your designs in realistic mission scenarios
• Developing sophisticated detection and classification algorithms against state-of-the-art threats
• Developing prototype proof-of-concept systems to address our client’s most challenging problems
• The candidate will be expected to plan/direct/coordinate tasks or small projects involving multiple individuals.
• The candidate will participate in business development by contributing significant elements to proposals and white papers and regularly making effective presentations to our customers.
• This position will require some amount of overnight travel to support customer engagements and limited off-site testing.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related field and 8 years of relevant professional work experience;
• or a Master’s degree in an applicable discipline and 5 years of relevant professional work experience;
• or a PhD graduate and 3 years of relevant professional work experience
• Knowledge in physics and physical systems, dynamics, control theory, and signal processing
• Experience developing signal processing algorithms and implementing physics-based models in MATLAB/Simulink
• Hands-on experience with experimental equipment to collect and analyze data sets
• 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.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience in developing and validating models for use in simulation of physical systems
• Programming experience in Python, C, C++
• Familiarity with laboratory equipment (sensors, actuators, analyzers, data acquisition, real-time platforms)

Work Location

Onsite - Cambridge, MA. Relocation package is available for qualified candidates.

Role Definition

As you apply for this role: 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 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.

Salary

The salary range for this role is 118,300 USD - 224,900 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.

Benefits

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.

Employment Terms

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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

Privacy 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.