Vision Systems - Program Chief Engineer

Prattwhitney; Goleta (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Performance-based incentives

Job summary

RTX Goleta-based Program Chief Engineer position leads the technical execution of a military/aerospace program from Goleta, CA. You will own system architecture, baselines, requirements, and ICDs while coordinating with portfolio leaders, technical directors, and program managers.

The role emphasizes trade studies, modeling/simulation, risk management, and readiness reviews to meet performance, cost, and schedule objectives in a secure government environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in STEM and 10+ years of systems engineering experience.
• Experience as a Technical Lead for electro‑optical or sensing systems.
• EVMS knowledge and technical metrics; ability to balance performance/cost/schedule.
• Program design reviews, integration & test, verification/validation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end technical execution across the program lifecycle.
• Define technical risk posture and mitigation strategies.
• Own system architecture, baseline, requirements and ICDs.
• Lead trade studies, modeling/simulation, flow‑downs and test plans.
• Ensure readiness vs performance, cost, schedule and manufacturability.
• Drive risk/opportunity management and EVMS-based metrics.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

EO/IR experience

EVMS

Risk management

System architecture

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

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 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. 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.

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.

Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the 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.