Principal Systems Engineer – Chief Engineer
RTX· Defense· Oct 8, 2026 · 20d ago
El Segundo, CA
In office
Full-time
Principal
$141K–$216K est.
5+ years exp
Job description
Date Posted:
2026-10-08 Country:
United States of America Location:
US-CA-EL SEGUNDO-E04 ~ 2006 E El Segundo Blvd ~ BLDG E04 Position Role Type:
Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Security Clearance Type:
Secret - Current Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required on day 1
Raytheon Company, Managed by Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.
The Secure Subsystems organization is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer – Chief Engineer to lead the modernization and certification of advanced military communication devices. This role provides technical leadership across a multi‑disciplinary engineering team, guiding system upgrades, shaping design decisions, and ensuring alignment with customer and program objectives. The Chief Engineer partners with Program Management to drive program execution, support cost and schedule as CAM, and oversee planning and coordination activities tied to major milestones, including crypto certification. Operating within agile and traditional development environments, this leader directs system-level requirements decomposition, integration planning, defect resolution, and verification efforts to deliver secure, reliable, and mission-ready crypto-enabled solutions. This position plays a critical role in advancing secure communication technologies and supporting the deployment of highly resilient systems to global defense customers.
What You Will Do
Lead as the chief engineer for a team that is going through several upgrades on a legacy device
Work closely with PMO and customer to get to the crypto certification
Cost Accounting Manager (CAM) and work with Finance/Scheduler for internal BCRs, IMS planning
Product owner/scrum master and running CCBs for defects
Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total system solutions
Perform bid and proposal efforts
Work system requirements decomposition, CDRL updates and black box or white box testing on Software and hardware integrated crypto systems
SIGN ON BONUS ELIGIBLE
Qualifications You Must Have
Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production
Experience with leading $5-10 million programs as a chief engineer/project lead through waterfall/agile methodologies for a minimum of 5 years
Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience
Qualifications We Prefer
Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework
Exceptionally strong communication skills, experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership
Experienced with Cryptographic Hardware architecture/design, Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies
Experience with tools such as DOORS, CAMEO or similar, Software Languages such as Rust and Python.
Experience with Hardware and Software Integration, Validation & Verification Testing, and Qualification Testing
What We Offer
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
• Adoption Assistance
• Autism Benefit
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
• Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!
Learn More & Apply Now!
Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customers succeed today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.
*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to 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.
Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.
Employee Referral Eligible
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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agilescrumrustpython
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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401(K)
Pto
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
Wellness