Vision Systems - Principal Systems/Test Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation eligibility

Medical, dental, vision, life

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

RTX Goleta, CA seeks a Principal Systems and Test Engineer to lead multidisciplinary engineering activities for airborne EO/IR surveillance and targeting sensor systems on onsite work in Goleta. You will guide design, verification, and integration efforts with budgets and technical oversight across the SE&TC team.

Ideal candidates hold a STEM degree with extensive EO/IR experience, and will apply systems engineering, risk management, and MATLAB scripting to deliver robust solutions while

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience or an advanced degree in a related field and minimum 5 years' experience hands on experience with EO/IR systems, including design, analysis, development, troubleshooting, and testing of EO subsystems, with a focus on IR FPA technology.
• Developing product specifications and requirements management, including distilling and deriving requirements for lower-level subassemblies and components
• System design, trade studies, optimization, and performance assessment

Responsibilities

• Work with Program Chief Engineer to ensure products meet cost, schedule, and performance targets.
• Provide systems engineering leadership to EO/IR programs and projects.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of engineers across disciplines.
• Manage risks and opportunities with the PCE for proactive execution.
• Coordinate and compile engineering inputs for proposals and bid summaries.

Skills

EO/IR systems

Systems engineering

Trade studies

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

MATLAB

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

MATLAB

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-11-11 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 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. At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling – to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. We bring 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. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world.

Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) Systems Engineering and Test Capabilities (SE&TC) Department is seeking a skilled and experienced Principal Systems and Test Engineer with expertise in airborne and space electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) surveillance and targeting sensor systems. The Systems Engineer plans and manages the multidisciplinary/cross-functional engineering activities and associated budgets, guides engineering follow-through of work products and support, supports proposal and change management activities for engineering and supports the bid manager for proposals within engineering. The SE&TC Department is responsible for all Electro-Optic Imaging Systems Definition, Architecture, Integration, product Verification & Validation along with program and project technical implementation to cost and schedule. This role is onsite in Goleta, California.

What You Will Do

• You will work with the Program Chief Engineer (PCE) to ensure products are developed and delivered within the allotted cost, schedule, technical quality and performance parameters
• Provide systems engineering technical leadership to RVS EO/IR infrared focalplane array (IR FPA) programs and special projects
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team made up of Systems, Test, Software, Firmware, Mechanical, Electrical, and Integrated Circuit engineers
• Manage engineering risks and opportunities with the PCE to ensure proactive execution
• Coordinate and compile Engineering inputs for proposals and present bid summaries to management
• Lead technical support efforts for production and development activities
• Oversee and direct trade studies, presenting comprehensive results to key stakeholders
• Communicate technical findings and strategic solutions to leadership and customers effectively
• Lead technical team to identify and resolve hardware, software, and system issues through detailed data analysis and debugging
• Oversee/perform the update, development, maintenance, and improvement of requirements, concepts of operations, and define system interfaces

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience or an advanced degree in a related field and minimum 5 years' experience hands on experience with EO/IR systems, including design, analysis, development, troubleshooting, and testing of EO subsystems, with a focus on IR FPA technology.
• Developing product specifications and requirements management, including distilling and deriving requirements for lower-level subassemblies and components
• System design, trade studies, optimization, and performance assessment

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience creating and modifying documentation in support of reviews associated with formal gating events and testing, which may include System Requirements Review (SRR), Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR), Test Readiness Review (TRR), Consent to Ship Review (CTSR) and Test Data Review (TDR) packages.
• Earned Value Management
• Ability to develop and execute test plans, procedures, and reports
• 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
• Creating analytical models and scripting for data analysis (MATLAB preferred)
• Experience collaborating with Integrated Circuit foundries and semiconductor factory processing

What We Offer

• Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world.
• Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation
• Relocation Eligible – relocation assistance available for this position
• The salary range for this role is 118,300 USD - 224,900 USD.
• 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.

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.

Goleta, CA: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-goleta-ca-location

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.

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.

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.