Senior Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer - Research

RTX; Westford (MA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) match

Flexible work schedules

Paid time off

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Senior Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer in Westford, MA to lead concept development of airborne EO/IR sensor systems. You will translate customer needs into system requirements and drive architecture, verification, and qualification with full traceability.

You will mentor junior engineers, perform modeling and simulation of system performance, and collaborate across programs with customers, suppliers, and internal teams, ensuring mission success and adherence to DoD security

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience, or a minimum of 7 years of experience with an advanced degree.
• Experience with the product development lifecycle of EO/IR imaging systems, including architecture, requirements, design, modeling and simulation, and/or testing.
• Experience in system design, integration, and data analysis.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued Secret security clearance is required.
• Qualifications We Prefer Advanced degree in Engineering, Physics, Science, or a related field.
• Experience with optics and/or focal plane designs.
• Experience providing technical leadership for engineering development projects, including cost and schedule estimation, risk management, and supplier technical management.
• Experience leading engineering development projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the concept development of airborne EO/IR sensor systems, from architecture development through requirements verification and qualification.
• Translate customer needs into system-level requirements and allocate system-level requirements to sub-systems and components with full traceability.
• Execute modeling and simulation of system-level performance under operational conditions.
• Develop novel optical imaging systems to meet mission objectives.
• Communicate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including program office, other engineering disciplines, customers, and suppliers.
• Mentor junior engineers and students to foster technical growth and development.

Skills

System design experience

Modeling and simulation

Data analysis

Leadership experience

Cost & schedule estimation

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-27 Country: United States of America Location: US-MA-WESTFORD-WFD7 ~ 7 Technology Park Dr ~ BLDG 7 Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. 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 after 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 freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

What You Will Do

Join our team as a Senior Principal EO/IR Systems Engineer, where you will play a critical role in driving the development of cutting-edge airborne electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems. Your work will contribute to creating advanced imaging systems and ensuring mission success for our customers. Provide technical leadership for the concept development of airborne EO/IR sensor systems, from architecture development through requirements verification and qualification. Translate customer needs into system-level requirements and collaborate across engineering functions to decompose and allocate system-level requirements to sub-systems and components with full traceability. Execute modeling and simulation of system-level performance under operational conditions. Develop novel optical imaging systems to meet mission objectives. Communicate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including program office, other engineering disciplines, customers, and suppliers. Mentor junior engineers and students to foster technical growth and development.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience, or a minimum of 7 years of experience with an advanced degree.
• Experience with the product development lifecycle of EO/IR imaging systems, including architecture, requirements, design, modeling and simulation, and/or testing.
• Experience in system design, integration, and data analysis.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued Secret security clearance is required.
• Qualifications We Prefer Advanced degree in Engineering, Physics, Science, or a related field.
• Experience with optics and/or focal plane designs.
• Experience providing technical leadership for engineering development projects, including cost and schedule estimation, risk management, and supplier technical management.
• Experience leading engineering development projects.

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, Safety, Accountability, Collaboration and Innovation.

• 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
• 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.
• 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.

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.

Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

Not Relocation Eligible - Relocation assistance not available.

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.

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.