Principal Detector REA System Engineer

Date Posted:
2026-05-27
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-AZ-TUCSON-9070 ~ 9070 S Rita Rd ~ 9070 BLDG
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:
Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date

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

The Effectors Optics Department is seeking a Principal Detector System Engineer to join a multidisciplinary team supporting development, qualification, and production of advanced EO systems. This role focuses on imaging sensor EO/IR detectors, hardware integration, verification, and production transition across a diverse portfolio of EO products.

This position is central to the successful integration and validation of electro-optical infrared detectors to ensure subsystems function cohesively, performance requirements are verified, and hardware transitions efficiently from development to production.

This is an on-site position located in Tucson, AZ.

What You Will Do

As Detector Engineer, decisions are data driven in nature and require preparing technical justification analysis reports as well as presenting to a variety of Engineering and Program Review Boards. Responsibilities to Anticipate:

• Work with multi-discipline teams supporting military programs in the development and production phases of infrared sensor systems.
• Work closely with Integrated Product Team Leads/Program Managers ensuring engineering requirements are defined, risks are managed, and schedules/budgets are met.
• Work under limited supervision while exercising responsibility in determining and meeting the technical, financial, and schedule objectives of projects.
• Analysis of infrared detectors.
• Work closely with detector component suppliers.
• Troubleshoot EO systems.
• Integration and test of detector components.
• Provide solutions to a variety of EO problems of moderate scope and complexity.

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 or an advanced degree in a related field and minimum 5 years' experience.
• Experience in electro-optical systems, imaging systems, or system integration.
• Experience in detector integration and test.
• Experience with IR detector fabrication and detector characterization for specific applications.
• Experience testing, modeling, and analyzing detectors.

Qualifications We Prefer

• An advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics.
• Performance modeling of infrared systems including fundamental device physics, radiometric analysis to support acceptance testing, system level performance assessments
• Experience with requirement generation, flow down, verification and validation
• Familiarity with CZT, HgCdTe, III-V nBn, or pBp manufacturing process for single color and multispectral Infrared (IR) Devices
• Experience with Focal Plane Array manufacturing and testing
• Experience with IR device packaging techniques for tactical applications including optical alignment techniques, vacuum packaging, and cryogenic applications
• Experience with Seeker and Sensor Integration and test
• Experience with electronic design for low noise IR applications
• Read Out Integrated Circuit System Integration Experience
• Experience with cryogenically Cooled Infrared Devices, Uncooled Infrared Devices, and Visible CCDs.
• Active DoD security clearance

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 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 onsite work in Tucson, AZ:
• This 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:

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 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.


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