Principal Software Engineer Architect - Embedded
RTX· Defense· Sep 16, 2026 · 1mo ago
El Segundo, CA
In office
Full-time
Principal
$168K–$230K est.
8+ years exp
Job description
Date Posted:
2026-09-16 Country:
United States of America Location:
US-CA-EL SEGUNDO-E01 ~ 2000 E El Segundo Blvd ~ BLDG E01 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:
DoD Clearance: Secret Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required on 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.
One of our SSA teams is seeking an Principal Software Engineer Architect - Embedded to serve as a senior technical leader responsible for architecting, developing, integrating, and verifying high‑reliability embedded and real‑time software for advanced aerospace and defense systems.
What You Will Do:
Provide expert-level guidance across the software lifecycle, influence system architecture decisions, coordinate with hardware and systems teams, and drive technical execution with a high degree of autonomy.
In this role, you will shape technical solutions for time-critical systems, mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and ensure that delivered software meets performance, scalability, cybersecurity, and safety requirements. You will also help guide long-term program strategy in collaboration with cross-functional engineering and program leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide technical ownership for major embedded software capabilities, leading design, implementation, integration, and verification activities.
Break down complex technical problems, identify solution paths, and guide teams through execution with minimal oversight.
Specify and design scalable, maintainable, secure software architectures, ensuring alignment with Cybersecurity, Software Safety, and system‑level requirements.
Develop, optimize, and debug real-time software using FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks, or similar RTOS environments, including scheduling, semaphores, queues, drivers, and kernel/user space interactions.
Implement embedded software in C and C , with additional contributions in Python or assembly when required for low-level tasks, automation, or hardware bring-up.
Lead system bring‑up and integration efforts on ARM-based processor platforms, including peripheral configuration and hardware-software interface alignment.
Develop clear, complete technical documentation, including specifications, ICDs, architecture diagrams, test plans, verification reports, and user documentation following Raytheon engineering processes.
Drive testing and validation strategy across unit, integration, hardware-in-the-loop, and full system-level evaluations.
Apply rigorous SDLC practices, ensuring consistency across planning, design, coding, testing, deployment, and sustainment.
Lead Agile/Scrum activities, refine requirements, manage backlogs, and coordinate cross-functional execution.
Support DevOps and CI/CD adoption, including build automation, pipeline integration, continuous testing, and infrastructure-as-code workflows using GitLab.
Perform advanced embedded debugging, employing modern tools, methodologies, and ARM-specific workflows for fault isolation and resolution.
Collaborate with hardware, systems, IV&V, cybersecurity, and program leadership to resolve issues and ensure seamless integration across the system lifecycle.
Use MagicDraw, GitLab, and other engineering tools to support configuration management, modeling, and systems traceability.
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.
Experience in C and C , including embedded and real-time development.
Experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, Zephyr, VxWorks) including scheduling, drivers, task management, semaphores, and queues.
Experience developing software for ARM processors, including peripherals and low-level hardware interfaces.
Active and transferable U.S. Government issued Secret security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
Qualifications We Prefer:
Experience applying SDLC across multiple software phases.
Experience with Agile/Scrum processes.
Experience using GitLab for version control, CI/CD, or DevOps.
Experience designing software architecture for high-performance, safety‑critical, or security‑critical systems.
Experience with Python or assembly for embedded functionality, test automation, or hardware initialization.
Experience generating or reviewing technical documentation: ICDs, requirements, architecture specs, or test plans.
Experience with MagicDraw or model-based systems engineering tools.
Experience developing automated test pipelines or DevOps workflows for embedded systems.
Experience coordinating across hardware, systems, and cybersecurity teams, including customer-facing technical discussions.
Strong communication, leadership, mentoring, and technical review abilities.
What We Offer:
A total rewards package that goes above and beyond with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs.
Some of the benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance and child/adult backup care.
Relocation Eligible – Relocation assistance available
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.
This position requires a security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA , an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: state.gov
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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Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401(K)
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave
Wellness