Software Engineering Section/Technical Lead

Prattwhitney; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Scholar Program

401(k) plan

Flexible work schedules

Paid time off

Job summary

Pratt & Whitney in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior Software Lead to manage embedded real-time algorithms and software baselines onsite. You will lead staffing, performance reviews, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure high-quality engineering outcomes.

The role requires a STEM degree, 8+ years of experience, and the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance. You will drive engineering discipline and foster growth within a fast‑moving environment.

Qualifications

• Typically requires STEM degree and 8+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience implementing and validating real-time algorithms on embedded platforms.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical contributor and Section Lead for staffing and performance across multiple software baselines.
• Provide leadership by reviewing and guiding engineering work, ensuring disciplined implementation.
• Coordinate with systems and cross-functional leads to support integration, verification, and delivery.
• Perform staffing, coaching, and workforce planning to sustain a strong engineering organization.

Skills

Senior leadership

Section Lead

Embedded systems

Real-time algorithms

SW/HW integration

Code review

Cross-functional collaboration

Staffing & coaching

Education

STEM degree

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-16 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-EL SEGUNDO-E01 ~ 2000 E El Segundo Blvd ~ BLDG E01 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.

What You Will Do:

• Serve as both a senior technical contributor and a Section Lead responsible for managing software engineering staffing, talent development, performance management, and maintaining consistent execution across multiple fast‑moving software baselines.
• Provide senior technical leadership by delegating, reviewing, and guiding engineering work to ensure disciplined implementation of key embedded system algorithms.
• Review code, validate algorithm behavior, and drive strong engineering practices through clear technical rationale and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with systems and cross‑functional leads to support integration, verification, and delivery of multiple simultaneous efforts.
• Manage section staffing, workload balancing, and long‑term workforce planning, ensuring a healthy and well‑supported engineering organization.
• Perform performance management, coaching, and career development to grow talent and maintain strong engineering capabilities.
• Champion engineering discipline excellence through process ownership, best‑practice promotion, inclusive culture building, and stable leadership across programs.
• Work onsite in El Segundo, CA

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience Experience implementing and validating real‑time algorithms and supporting SW/HW integration on embedded platforms.
• Experience collaborating with different stakeholders.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. government issued security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with EO/IR or sensor‑based targeting systems.
• Familiarity with agile processes including Scrum, Continuous Integration, and automated testing methods.
• Experience coordinating across multiple product lines or quick‑reaction capability programs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with ability to translate technical considerations to clear, actionable guidance.
• Proven effectiveness in rapid‑execution, multi‑baseline programs.

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.
• Some of our employee benefits include: The RTX Employee Scholar Program pays for tuition, academic fees and books for undergraduate and graduate study at approved educational institutions 401(k) plan that offers a broad range of investment options.
• For eligible employees, we will match up to 4% of your savings to help you build financial security
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to accommodate work/life balance including many with every other Friday off

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. This position requires a security clearance.

DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA , an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm 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 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.

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.

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.