Vision Systems - Principal Systems Engineer

Raytheon; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Raytheon in Goleta, CA seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to lead EO/IR surveillance and targeting sensor programs. You will guide system design, architecture, and verification, coordinating across Systems, Test, Software, and Mechanical teams on onsite development.

You will manage risks, lead trade studies, and communicate findings to leadership, customers, and program stakeholders, ensuring adherence to cost and schedule while supporting production and field needs.

Qualifications

• Degree in STEM and 8+ years of experience managing requirements for lower-level subassemblies and components.
• Experience with system design, analysis, development, troubleshooting, testing, trade studies, optimization, and performance assessment.

Responsibilities

• Ensure products meet cost, schedule, technical quality, and performance requirements.
• Provide systems engineering leadership for EO/IR and FPA programs and projects.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Systems, Test, Software, Firmware, Mechanical, Electrical, and IC engineering.
• Manage engineering risks and opportunities with the PCE to support proactive execution.

Skills

EO/IR systems

FPA technology

Requirements management

System design

Trade studies

DOORs/CAMEO

EVMS

Education

STEM degree

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-15

Country: United States of America

Location: US-CA-GOLETA-B01 ~ 6825 Cortona Dr ~ BLDG B01

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 Vision Systems (RVS) Systems Engineering and Test Capabilities (SE&TC) Department is seeking a skilled and experienced Principal Systems Engineer with expertise in airborne and space electro‑optical and infrared (EO/IR) surveillance and targeting sensor systems.

The SE&TC Department is responsible for all EO/IR Imaging Systems Definition, Architecture, Integration, product Verification & Validation along with program and project technical implementation to cost and schedule.

This is an Onsite position located in Goleta, California.

What You Will Do:

• Work with the Program Chief Engineer to ensure products meet cost, schedule, technical quality, and performance requirements
• Provide systems engineering leadership for RVS EO/IR IR, Focal Plane Array (FPA) programs and special projects
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams across Systems, Test, Software, Firmware, Mechanical, Electrical, and Integrated Circuit engineering
• Manage engineering risks and opportunities with the PCE to support proactive program execution
• Coordinate engineering inputs for proposals and present bid summaries to management
• Guide technical support efforts for production and development activitiesn
• Lead and present trade studies and technical analyses to stakeholders
• Communicate technical findings and recommendations to leadership and customers
• Lead teams in resolving hardware, software, and system issues through detailed data analysis and debugging
• Oversee development and maintenance of requirements, concepts of operations, and system interfaces
• Prepare documentation for formal reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, CTSR, and test data packages
• Develop product specifications and manage requirements, including derivation of lower‑level subassembly and component requirements

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 developing product specifications and requirements management, including distilling, and deriving requirements for lower‑level subassemblies and components
• Experience with system design, analysis, development, troubleshooting, testing, trade studies, optimization, and performance assessment.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• System experience with EO/IR subsystems, IR FPA technology, semiconductor fabrication processes, photonics, optics manufacturing, or related industry experience
• Factory production and direct experience with IR FPA design and testing for tactical and/or space environments
• Vacuum packaging, dewar design, cryogenic cooling, and/or opto‑mechanics
• Requirements management via DOORs and/or CAMEO
• Create analytical models and scripting for data analysis (MATLAB preferred)
• ROIC wafer probing, fabrication, integration, verification, and validation for a complex EO/IR system
• Collaborate with Integrate Circuit foundries and semiconductor factory processing
• Test methodology within sensors to include optical performance, analysis, and test verification for EO/IR Focal Plane Array sensor systems and/or relatable experience in development and production program
• EVMS Certification and demonstrated ability to manage Engineering team budgets and staffing demand
• Plan, lead, and execute root‑cause and corrective‑action (RCCA) effort
• Earned Value Management

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 available for this position

Learn More & Apply Now!

• Please consider the following role type definition as you apply for this role.
• 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.

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.

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