Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Missile Guidance, Navigation, & Control Engineer

Prattwhitney; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 132,400 - 251,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) matching

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

Prattwhitney is looking for a Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Missile Guidance, Navigation, & Control Engineer in Tucson, AZ. This role involves the development and testing of missile flight code, alongside system performance analysis using GNC and Signal Processing techniques.

The ideal candidate has at least 10 years of experience in relevant fields. The position offers a competitive salary range of $132,400 to $251,600 per year and includes relocation assistance and various benefits such as medical and 401(k) matching.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in GNC, Signal Processing, or Modeling/Simulation.
• Experience with missile system applications.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret clearance prior to start date.

Responsibilities

• Development and testing of embedded tactical missile flight code.
• Conduct system level performance studies.
• Support missile performance analysis and model development.

Skills

GNC application experience

Signal Processing expertise

Modeling/Simulation experience

Experience with MATLAB

Experience with Python

Experience with C/C++

System-level performance assessments

Ability to communicate with leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related STEM field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Job description

Job Title

Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Missile Guidance, Navigation, & Control Engineer

Location & Position Type

Location: Tucson, AZ

Position Type: Onsite

Date Posted

2026-04-14

Security Clearance

U.S. citizenship required. Requires an active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance (Secret). Ability to obtain an Interim Secret clearance prior to start date.

Overview

The Systems Effectors: Processing, Guidance & Control Center is responsible for algorithm development including Guidance, Navigation, and Control; radio frequency (RF) and electro-optical/infrared (EO-IR) Signal Processing; and missile-and sensor-level Modeling and Simulation. In the GNC department, we design, integrate, and optimize effector guidance, tracking, navigation and estimation algorithms to meet mission objectives.

Responsibilities

• Development, integration, and testing of embedded tactical missile flight code.
• Definition and execution of system level performance studies and analyses to inform the development and integration of new capabilities, refinement of existing capability, or to address obsolescence.
• Work within an agile framework to lead development of backlogs, plans, and metrics.
• Provide experience and guidance to help the program train new engineers and execute efficiently and effectively.
• Support missile performance analysis including model development, system optimization, and Monte Carlo assessments with expected system disturbances.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience in GNC, Signal Processing, and/or Modeling/Simulation.
• Engineering experience in missile system applications to include at least three of the following or subject-matter expertise in at least one:
• Digital and/or modern control systems
• Dynamics
• Kalman filter design
• Monte Carlo analysis
• Development and/or simulation of physical systems
• Signal processing
• Verification and validation
• System-level performance assessments
• GPS/INS navigation systems, sensors, and algorithms
• Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) systems, sensors, and algorithms for navigation in GPS-degraded environments.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, C, C++, and/or Object-Oriented design.
• Experience with GNC and/or Signal Processing algorithms within a simulation or physical environment.
• Experience managing or leading others in a technical and/or functional capacity within an engineering environment.
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret U.S. government issued Security Clearance prior to start date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM field with 10 or more years of GNC, Signal Processing, and/or Modeling/Simulation experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership and customers regarding matters of significant importance.
• Ability to balance multiple concurrent priorities with overlapping deadlines in an Agile environment.
• Subject Matter Expert in at least one of the following areas: RF algorithm design, GNC algorithm design, autopilot algorithm design, or Software in Simulation.
• Experience with and demonstrable achievement in systems engineering principles with regards to product development.
• Engineering team leadership experience.

Salary and Benefits

Salary Range: $132,400 - $251,600 per year.

Relocation: Eligible – relocation assistance is available.

Benefits include: 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.