Senior Principal Spacecraft Concept & Mission Engineer/Sr Principal Systems Engineer Onsite

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Flexible schedules

Job summary

Raytheon in Tucson, AZ seeks a Spacecraft Concept & Mission Engineer to support Advanced Technology's Alternate Missions & Space product line, developing satellite concepts, assessing CONOPs, and pursuing new programs for national security space customers. The role involves modeling with Python/MATLAB/C++, STK or similar tools, and collaborating with cross‑functional teams, with opportunities to contribute inventions and IP disclosures.

This onsite role requires active TS U.S.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 10+ years of experience.
• Deep domain in GN&C, orbital mechanics, mission planning or satellite tech.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for modeling physical systems.

Responsibilities

• Analyze missions and hardware feasibility; develop mission analysis tools.
• Create visualizations and perform trajectory optimization and performance analyses.
• Collaborate across disciplines to mature concepts and pursue new programs.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

C++

GN&C

Orbital mechanics

Mission planning

Mission analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

STK

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-20

Country: United States of America

Location: US-AZ-TUCSON-805 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG 805

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: Top Secret

Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

At RTX, the world 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.

Raytheon’s Integrated Solutions Modeling and Architecture Directorate (ISMA) performs customer focused operational analysis, simulation, mission planning and architecture development activities. Supporting this mission are teams driving flexible integrated solutions crossing all product areas (sensors, effectors, command and control, logistics and operations), developing tools and methods to evaluate system level studies and visualization based on customer requirements.

The Operations and Mission Analysis (Southwest) department is currently seeking a Spacecraft Concept & Mission Engineer to support Raytheon’s Advanced Technology organization. In this role, you will support Advanced Technology's Alternate Missions & Space product line in developing satellite technology, assessing mission CONOPs and constellations, and supporting new mission and program captures for national security space customers. Advanced Technology incubates new technologies and explores novel mission areas for the RTX business, captures new programs, and executes unique projects. You will be supporting new research and development with opportunities for developing inventions and intellectual property.

This is an onsite role located in Tucson, AZ.

What You Will Do

• You will join a team of engineers and analysts to realize team objectives:
  • Tasking is expected to include a mix of vehicle design and system sizing, mission performance analysis, and trajectory optimization.
• Analyze notional missions and hardware for feasibility and engage with engineers across disciplines to improve models and understand performance drivers.
  • Develop common mission analysis, performance analysis, and mission planning toolsets for a portfolio of systems.
  • Utilize grid computing infrastructure to enable generation and analysis of large datasets
  • Produce visualizations of complex systems and mission CONOPs in STK or similar tools.
  • Coordinate with product line management and customers
  • Work closely with programs & AT leadership to develop concepts and mature technologies for new business development and capture. Opportunities to pursue IRAD funding and author intellectual property disclosures.
  • Engage directly in mission planning application software development and testing

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations.
• Depth in at least one system-level or subsystem-level technical domain:
  • Guidance, Navigation, and Control
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Mission Planning
  • Mission Analysis / Performance Analysis
  • Satellite Technology
  • Multidisciplinary design, System-of-Systems design
• Experience with using programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, and/or C++ to model physical systems.
• Experience in one or more of the following skill areas:
  • System performance, CONOPS
  • Algorithms and signal processing
  • Modeling and simulation (i.e., 6-DOF)
  • An active and transferable Top Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required at the time of application for this position, with the ability to obtain special program access after start. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Advanced Degree in STEM (and can be considered as additional years of experience)
• An understanding of vehicle conceptual design, advanced design methods, numerical optimization methods, and data analytics.
• Experience in building physics-based models and choosing an appropriate fidelity for the questions being asked.
• Highly self-motivated and independent work ethic. Ability to question data and address root cause issues.
• Familiarity with Git version control and SLURM grid computing infrastructure.
• Experience with Ansys STK

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.

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.

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.

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.