Sr. Principal System Engineer - Test Architect

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Transition to Production (TTP) Test Architect for the NG SRI program in the Land and Air Defense Systems (LADS) unit, based in Tucson, AZ. The role leads test solutions, drives producibility improvements, and scales testing to meet program cost and capacity goals.

You will oversee cross-functional teams, own end-to-end test strategy, and collaborate with Operations and Engineering to ensure reliability and compliance.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 10 years of prior relevant experience.
• Experience in systems engineering, systems integration, systems testing, verification, or validation.
• Experience with integration lab, test facility, or in the field.
• Ability to obtain a Level 3 Test Architect certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and strategic oversight across cross-functional Operations, Engineering, and Test Equipment teams.
• Lead the development and deployment of innovative test solutions, process automation initiatives, and design/process improvements that enhance producibility and reduce cycle time.
• Craft and co-own the end-to-end strategy for production test architecture, including conceptual design, detailed design, implementation, integration, and verification phases.
• Partner closely with Operations (factory and program) and program Engineering leadership to ensure test capabilities meet production scale, reliability, and compliance requirements.
• Reports directly to the Production Program Manager with a dotted-line connection to OCE and Operations leads to maintain cross‑organizational accountability and technical alignment.
• Influence and support IRAD and capital investment planning to ensure future capabilities, infrastructure, and technologies align with long-term production strategy.
• Communicate technical direction, risks, tradeoffs, and decision rationale clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Ensure the technical integrity of program work products including the Technical Data Package (TDP) related to Test Strategy execution.
• Travel up to 25%

Skills

Test Architecture

Systems Engineering

Test Automation

Production Scale Testing

Technical Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM fields

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-03 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: Secret - Current 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. 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. The Effectors group under Systems Engineering Test Capabilities (SETC) is currently searching for a Transition to Production (TTP) Test Architect (TA) for the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) program in the Land and Air Defense Systems (LADS) Strategic Business Unit (SBU). The Transition-to-Production (TTP) Test Architect is responsible for leading test solutions to improve producibility to meet the average unit cost goal for the NGSRI program while scaling to 200–500 missiles per year in LRIP and ultimately achieve full-rate production (FRP) capacity of 1100 missiles per year.

What You Will Do:

• Provide technical and strategic oversight across cross-functional Operations, Engineering, and Test Equipment (TE) teams.
• Lead the development and deployment of innovative test solutions, process automation initiatives, and design/process improvements that enhance producibility and reduce cycle time.
• Craft and co-own the end-to-end strategy for production test architecture, including conceptual design, detailed design, implementation, integration, and verification phases.
• Partner closely with Operations (factory and program) and program Engineering leadership to ensure test capabilities meet production scale, reliability, and compliance requirements.
• Reports directly to the Production Program Manager with a dotted-line connection to OCE and Operations leads to maintain cross‑organizational accountability and technical alignment.
• Influence and support IRAD and capital investment planning to ensure future capabilities, infrastructure, and technologies align with long-term production strategy.
• Communicate technical direction, risks, tradeoffs, and decision rationale clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Ensure the technical integrity of program work products including the Technical Data Package (TDP) related to Test Strategy execution.
• Travel up to 25%

What You Will Learn:

• Gain knowledge and technical exposure to a fast-growing, modern product line.
• Develop the test strategy through the production lifecycle of an effector system.
• Gain an understanding on how the Production Test Strategy aligns and interacts with the overall NGSRI Test Strategy across user operations, development and production 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.
• Experience in systems engineering, systems integration, systems testing, verification, or validation.
• Experience with integration lab, test facility, or in the field.
• The ability to obtain a Level 3 Test Architect certification.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Strong systems engineering or test architecture background with experience in production-scale test solutions.
• Experience with execution of technical and schedule performance.
• Experience interfacing with customer representatives.
• Ability to lead and align cross-functional teams in complex environments.
• Expertise in test systems, process automation, and design-for-producibility methodologies.
• Experience with Development and Production test strategy and architecture throughout a product lifecycle.
• Experience in developing and/or testing missiles.
• Experience developing Engineering and Production Test Equipment to meet established test requirements.
• Experience with transition to production of missile program.
• Currently Certified as a Level 3 Test Architect or higher.

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.

Relocation Eligible – Relocation assistance is available.

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 CAS), 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

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.

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.