{"id":2856225,"url":"https://alion.io/job/rtx-principal-optical-design-engineer","title":"Principal Optical Design Engineer","company":{"id":1162,"name":"RTX","domain":"rtx.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/raytheon-technologies","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":93,"open_postings":247,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.449,"repost_share":0.049,"time_to_fill_p50_days":8,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Tucson, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":107500,"max":204500,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":204500},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Effector","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"JavaScript","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-16","last_verified_at":"2026-10-23T01:25:16Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"Date Posted:\n2026-10-16\n\nCountry:\nUnited States of America\n\nLocation:\nUS-AZ-TUCSON-9070 ~ 9070 S Rita Rd ~ BLDG 9070\n\nPosition Role Type:\nOnsite\n\nU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:\nActive 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\n\nSecurity Clearance Type:\nSecret - Current\n\nSecurity Clearance Status:\nAbility to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start dateAt 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.\nRaytheon 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 freedom and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.\nThe Effector Optics Department designs and delivers advanced optical seeker systems for defense applications. Our teams integrate optical, opto-mechanical, detector, cryogenic, and systems engineering disciplines to produce high-performance infrared imaging solutions that operate in demanding environments.\nWe are seeking a Principal Optical Design Engineer to support the development of advanced infrared imaging seekers from concept through production. This role focuses on broadband imaging system design, tolerancing, and integration within ruggedized, thermally dynamic environments.\nThis position is on-site in Tucson, AZ.\nWhat You Will Do\nLead optical design and analysis of infrared imaging systems and seekers.\nPerform detailed optical tolerancing and sensitivity analyses to ensure producibility and performance margin.\nConduct stray light analysis and ghost assessments to support high signal-to-noise imaging performance.\nSupport optical fabrication, vendor engagement, and prototype build activities.\nCollaborate cross-functionally with opto-mechanical, detector, cryogenic, and systems engineers.\nSupport system integration, alignment planning, and optical performance validation.\nEnsure technical performance, cost, and schedule objectives are met across development phases.\nContribute to design reviews and documentation throughout development and transition to production.\nQualifications You Must Have\nTypically requires a 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.\nExperience designing and analyzing infrared or broadband imaging optical systems.\nExperience with optical tolerancing and performance sensitivity analysis.\nExperience with CODE V and/or Zemax for imaging system design.\nExperience with stray light tools such as FRED and/or ASAP.\nExperience using MATLAB (or similar tools) for analysis and modeling.\nQualifications We Prefer\nAdvanced degree in Optics, Physics, or related discipline.\nExperience developing optical systems for thermally dynamic or high-vibration environments\nExperience supporting optical fabrication, alignment, and integration of complex assemblies\nFamiliarity with detector-based imaging systems and cryogenic optical assemblies\nExperience supporting hardware transition from prototype through production\nActive DoD security clearance\nWhat We Offer\nOur 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.\nRelocation assistance available!\nLearn More & Apply Now!\nPlease 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.\nThis position requires onsite work in Tucson, AZ: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-tucson,-az-location\nThis position requires security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), 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: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm\nAs 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.\nThe salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.\nPrivacy Policy and Terms:\nClick on this link to read the Policy and Terms","description_format":"text","description_chars":7315,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Life insurance","Parental leave","Relocation assistance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Missiles","Air Defense","Defense Manufacturing","Avionics & Flight Control"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-19T14:46:59Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":61,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.814,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":6,"expected_fill_days":8,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:late","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":204500,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/rtx-principal-optical-design-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/rtx-principal-optical-design-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-23T01:56:24Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":3208,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-24T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1162},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1162"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Frtx-principal-optical-design-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Frtx-principal-optical-design-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Frtx-principal-optical-design-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/rtx-principal-optical-design-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Frtx-principal-optical-design-engineer"}]}