Principal Systems Engineer – Chief Engineer (Onsite)

RTX•El Segundo, CA

23h•$118,300 - $224,900•Onsite

About The Position

The Secure Subsystems organization is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer – Chief Engineer to lead the modernization and certification of advanced military communication devices. This role provides technical leadership across a multi‑disciplinary engineering team, guiding system upgrades, shaping design decisions, and ensuring alignment with customer and program objectives. The Chief Engineer partners with Program Management to drive program execution, support cost and schedule as CAM, and oversee planning and coordination activities tied to major milestones, including crypto certification. Operating within agile and traditional development environments, this leader directs system-level requirements decomposition, integration planning, defect resolution, and verification efforts to deliver secure, reliable, and mission-ready crypto-enabled solutions. This position plays a critical role in advancing secure communication technologies and supporting the deployment of highly resilient systems to global defense customers.

Requirements

Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production
Experience with leading $5-10 million programs as a chief engineer/project lead through waterfall/agile methodologies for a minimum of 5 years
Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework
Exceptionally strong communication skills, experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership
Experienced with Cryptographic Hardware architecture/design, Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies
Experience with tools such as DOORS, CAMEO or similar, Software Languages such as Rust and Python.
Experience with Hardware and Software Integration, Validation & Verification Testing, and Qualification Testing

Responsibilities

Lead as the chief engineer for a team that is going through several upgrades on a legacy device
Work closely with PMO and customer to get to the crypto certification
Cost Accounting Manager (CAM) and work with Finance/Scheduler for internal BCRs, IMS planning
Product owner/scrum master and running CCBs for defects
Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total system solutions
Perform bid and proposal efforts
Work system requirements decomposition, CDRL updates and black box or white box testing on Software and hardware integrated crypto systems

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
Tuition reimbursement program
Student Loan Repayment Program
Life insurance and disability coverage
Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
Adoption Assistance
Autism Benefit
Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
Relocation assistance