Electro-Optics Systems Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)

Date Posted:

2026-10-14

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:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

Are you ready to explore the world of aerospace and defense? Do you want to learn from and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the industry? At RTX, our internships, co-ops and full-time careers provide an exceptional foundation to work on complex problems, advance your skills and create a safer, more connected world. Discover opportunities to make a difference at RTX.

What You Will Do

The Electro-Optical System Design Department is currently in need for an Electro Optical Systems Engineer Intern to support the Advanced Products & Solutions Mission Area in the development and building of advanced electro-optical systems. The systems engineer intern will be part of a design team building electro-optical systems including imagers, passive/active EO tracking, LIDAR, and directed energy systems. The systems engineer intern will be contributing to assessing systems architecture, developing requirements for these systems, and supporting the design and build efforts. It will involve being able to assess mission/system requirements and derive design and performance requirements for subsystem and unit levels. The role also involves understanding verification and test activities to assist in the creation of a proper IV&V plan meeting the requirements of the program.

The EOSD Department supports Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) by providing systems engineering expertise in the Electro-Optical Systems (EOS) domain. Typical roles within the department involve:

• EOS System Architects and System Design Engineers
• Integrated Product Team Leadership, Lead Systems Engineers, Chief Engineers
• Requirements Engineers
• EO Systems Analysts

Qualifications You Must Have

• Must be pursuing Bachelor's or Advanced degree in Physics, Optical, Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session.
• Must have a minimum of 30 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co-op session.
• Experience with electro-optical infrared imagery, focal plane technology, lenses, or apertures
• Experience with fundamental optical principles including geometrical optics, physical optics, imaging systems, aberrations, or detectors
• Hands-on experience through coursework or lab work with optical testing or alignment

Experience may be obtained through job experience, research, coursework, or projects

Qualifications We Prefer

• Internship or project experience related to opto-mechanical engineering, photonics, infrared physics, or optical systems
• Experience with programming using C++ or Python
• Experience or coursework in signal processing, image processing, tracking, computer vision, or machine learning
• Knowledge of systems engineering architecture and design, integration and test, and verification and validation approaches
• Experience using MATLAB for data analysis and strong analytical and problem-solving skills

What We Offer

• Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.
• Relocation Eligibility

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 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: Security Clearance FAQs - United States Department of State

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 42,000 USD - 88,000 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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