Vision Systems - Program Chief Engineer

Socket.dev; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

RTX benefits package

Job summary

RTX is hiring a Program Chief Engineer to shape and lead the technical execution of Tactical and Transition programs. Located onsite in Goleta, CA, you will be the single engineering leadership contact for program(s), defining vision, strategy, and goals with senior customer counterparts.

You will own the system architecture, interfaces, and ICDs, lead trade studies, and drive verification/validation activities while balancing performance, cost, and schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) required.
• 10+ years of relevant systems engineering experience in EO/IR system development.
• Experience as a Technical Lead for complex electro‑optical or sensing systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure end‑to‑end technical execution across the program lifecycle.
• Define program technical risk posture and mitigation strategies.
• Own the system architecture, technical baseline, requirements, and ICDs.
• Lead technical trade studies, modeling/simulation, flow‑downs, verification/validation, and test plans.
• Ensure technical integrity and compliance to performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturability goals.
• Drive technical risk/opportunity management, performance tracking, and corrective actions using EVMS data.

Skills

Technical Lead

System engineering

EVMS

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-16

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 is seeking a Program Chief Engineer to shape and lead the technical execution of our Tactical and Transition programs. The Program Chief Engineer is the single engineering leadership point of contact responsible for the engineering execution of a program(s). The Program Chief Engineer will work with the Portfolio Chief Engineer, Technical Director, Engineering Director and Program Managers to establish and manage the program vision, strategy, and goals. The Program Chief Engineer is a key participant in establishing a technical baseline, setting program vision, strategy and goals, and proposal development. The Program Chief Engineer is also the primary directorate technical point of contact with the customer’s senior technical and programmatic counterparts. This position is located onsite in Goleta, California.

What You Will Do:

• Ensure successful end‑to‑end technical execution, meeting performance, cost, schedule, and risk objectives across the program lifecycle
• Define program technical risk posture and deliver balanced, technically sound risk‑mitigation strategies
• Own the system architecture, technical baseline, requirements, and interface control documents (ICDs)
• Lead technical trade studies, modeling/simulation, flow‑downs, verification/validation strategies, and test plans
• Ensure technical integrity and compliance to performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturability objectives
• Drive technical risk/opportunity management, performance parameter tracking, and corrective actions using EVMS data

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline (preferably Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or Physics) and 10+ years of relevant systems engineering experience in EO/IR system development: focal plane arrays, ROICs, optics, cryogenic systems, sensor calibration, and data paths
• Experience as a Technical Lead for complex electro‑optical or sensing systems
• Program design reviews, integration & test, verification/validation, and readiness reviews.
• EVMS, risk management, and technical metrics; ability to balance performance/cost/schedule

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with environmental/qualification testing reliability, and manufacturability
• Familiarity with cryocoolers, vacuum packaging, microelectronics assembly, and precision opto‑mechanical design
• Proposal leadership (SOW/BOE development), WBS planning, staffing forecasts, and cost‑volume authorship
• Ability to mentor and develop technical leads, IPT owners, and early‑career engineers

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

The salary range for this role is 145,600 USD - 276,800 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.

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.