Principal System Safety Engineer

Date Posted:
2026-06-23
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-VA-DULLES-710 ~ 22110 Pacific Blvd ~ BLDG 10
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

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 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 freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.


Our System Safety team is dedicated to evaluating and mitigating the safety risks that our products may pose to the world, specifically to people, hardware, and the environment. By applying rigorous engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques, the team ensures that safety is optimized throughout every phase of the system lifecycle.


System Safety is an integral part of the design process, functioning as a critical component within the broader systems engineering framework. From concept development to deployment and beyond, the team works to identify potential hazards, assess risks, and implement solutions to enhance product safety and reliability for our warfighters.


As a Principal System Safety Engineer, you will be accountable for establishing and executing major safety programs. The Safety Lead serves as both a technical expert in missile safety and a project manager who oversees safety program execution, leads safety teams, and interfaces with program and functional leadership. This role requires advanced application of MIL-STD-882E for System Safety (hardware, software, firmware, and personnel) for DoD missile systems, typically obtained through advanced education, extensive experience, and strong project leadership. This position is onsite in Dulles, VA.


What You Will Do


As aPrincipial System Safety Engineer your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and implementing one or more MIL-STD-882E compliant system safety programs involving management (task series 100), analysis (task series 200), evaluation (task series 300), and verification (task series 400).

• Practical application of project management skills:

• Create and update the strategy for the program to meet all its milestones with system safety features integrated into the product in compliance with contract and awarded funding.

• Create a schedule and integrate safety tasks and activities into program Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).

• Plan/manage the safety program effort within the Program IMS.

• Understand and manage the safety budget and tasking through close coordination with the responsible CAM / IPTL / product owner, including EACs.

• Mentor junior safety engineers.

• Actively engage in engineering review boards, and configuration control boards to stay on top of design changes and assess impacts to the established safety program.

• Establish on-going feedback loop with functional and program management.

• Lead & coordinate System Safety Working Group(s) between key Raytheon and Customer representatives.

• Escalate risks to the appropriate level and follow through on corrective actions.

• Interpret system requirements, customer specifications and military standards, to recommend compliance strategies to program leadership: Chief Engineer, Program Manager, Integrated Product Team Lead, etc.

• Working across all integrated product teams and lines to properly eliminate hazards or provide effective controls.

• Collaborate with stakeholders across a range of engineering functions to identify and mitigate risks: Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Firmware Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Environmental Safety, & Health, Human Systems Interfaces, Test Engineering.

• Analysis of engineering hardware, mechanical and electrical drawings and schematics assessing fault tolerance, latent hazards, and safety requirements compliance.

• Collaborate with Program Management and government approval authorities from design, fabrication, integration and test, production to demilitarization and disposal phases

• Manage safety-related interactions with suppliers and/or subcontractors.

• Identify and implement improved safety solutions.

• Identify best practices to improve overall safety culture at Raytheon.

• Understand and shape system safety/Human System Interfaces postures across the lifecycle (design, integration/ test, flight test, production, field, returns).

• Travel up to 10% may be required

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. An advanced degree may account for additional years of experience as required for this position.

• Experience developing and implementing MIL-STD-882E System Safety Program tasks and analyses, involving management (task series 100), analysis (task series 200), evaluation (task series 300), and verification (task series 400). This includes hardware and software safety related tasks.

• Experience with DoD System Safety Programs e.g. MIL-STD-882 / DO-178

• Experience with presenting brief safety status to safety approval authority at technical reviews, safety review boards, and others as part of the safety approval process.

• Experience managing a safety program.

• Experience collaborating with stakeholders across a range of engineering functions to identify and mitigate risks.

• Active and transferrable final U.S. government issued Secret security clearance is required prior to start date. US citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with briefing at the military safety review board.

• Experience with system and software safety implementation in Agile Development environment

• Experience with interpersonal and project management skills, with the ability to manage a safety program and provide directions to support safety personnel

• Experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and Proposal Development

• Experience interfacing with Human Systems Integration showcasing execution of Human Factors Engineering tasking involving MIL-STD-1472.

• Experience with Engineering Change Proposals, Engineering Review Boards, System Safety Working Groups

• 5 years' experience with a master's degree in science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)

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

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 the ability to obtain a 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:

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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