Principal Systems Operations Engineer

Prattwhitney; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

Flexible schedules

Employee assistance program

Scholar program

Parental leave

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

RTX in Springfield, VA seeks a Principal Systems Operations Engineer to support mission-critical space ISR operations. The role emphasizes baseline installations, monitoring system health, and resolving complex operational issues in a fast-paced environment.

You will collaborate with contractors and government personnel to ensure operational readiness and system availability, including after-hours support. A DoD TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required, with U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in systems engineering, especially in operations and maintenance environments.
• Active DoD TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate baseline installations in operational environments.
• Monitor system availability and performance metrics; generate reports.
• Troubleshoot complex operational issues and lead system recovery efforts.
• Coordinate with contractors and government personnel to plan and execute operational activities.
• Provide technical guidance to leadership during meetings and briefings.
• Support 24/7 operations, including off-hours as needed.

Skills

Baseline installations

System availability

Anomaly resolution

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Java

C++

Python

Linux (Red Hat)

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-29 Country: United States of America Location: US-VA-SPRINGFIELD-7500-CUST ~ 7500 Geoint Dr ~ GEOINT (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 Polygraph Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. With a strong focus on Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that make the world a safer place. We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Systems Operations Engineer supporting one of our premier programs within Raytheon, an RTX Business, in the Space Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (SISR) business unit. As part of the Systems Integration and Test (SI&T) organization, your expertise in system operations, troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and collaboration with contractors and government personnel will be critical to mission success. You will support operational readiness, system availability, anomaly resolution, baseline installations, and the resolution of complex operational issues in a mission-critical environment. The work is on-site in Springfield, VA.

What You Will Do

• Lead and coordinate baseline installations in operational environments
• Monitor, track, analyze, and report system availability and performance metrics
• Troubleshoot complex operational issues, resolve anomalies, and lead system recovery efforts
• Generate weekly, monthly, and ad hoc system availability and performance reports
• Represent the program in technical exchange meetings and customer briefings
• Lead efforts to resolve systems engineering, integration, and operational issues
• Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams, contractors, and government personnel to plan and execute operational activities
• Monitor, track, and manage operational workloads to support mission requirements
• Provide technical guidance and backup support to technical leadership during meetings and briefings
• Support 24/7 operations, including off-hours call-in as needed

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience
• Experience in systems engineering, particularly in operations and maintenance environments
• Experience troubleshooting complex systems, analyzing operational anomalies, and supporting system recovery
• Experience working independently, exercising sound technical judgment, and resolving complex technical issues
• Active and transferable U.S. government-issued DoD TS/SCI clearance with polygraph 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 working in a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) environment
• Experience in satellite ground system development or operations
• Experience in relevant project domains, such as mission management ground systems or space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms
• Experience working in Linux environments, particularly Red Hat
• Experience with programming languages such as Java, C++, or Python
• Experience with cloud environments and modern infrastructure
• Experience with Oracle or similar database technologies

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
• Salary range: 107,500 USD - 204,500 USD
• 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
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on level of position and collective-bargaining agreement coverage

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to the benefits listed above. 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.

Location: Springfield, VA: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-springfield-va-location

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.