Principal Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted: 2026-09-03 Country: United States of America Location: US-NM-LAS CRUCES-12400-CUST ~ 12400 NASA Rd ~ ASFCF CTR (External Site) 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: TS/SCI with CI Poly - 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 freedom and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense. Raytheon is seeking a Mission Lead to oversee satellite Operations and Maintenance (O&M) in a 24/7 operations environment. This role will provide leadership to a skilled O&M team responsible for Operations Planning and Command and Control activities. The Mission Lead will serve as the primary point of contact for mission operations, ensuring mission success through oversight of team performance, identifying and resolving complex challenges, and driving operational excellence. The position requires availability to work overtime, non-scheduled call-ins, and a combination of day staff and shift schedules, assigned based on mission and team needs. As a Mission Lead, you will be responsible for mentoring and guiding a team of operators, collaborating across multiple teams, prioritizing program-level objectives, and ensuring the successful execution of mission-critical operations. You will work in a dynamic and adaptable environment, with opportunities to implement innovative solutions and process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness. Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico What You Will Do Oversee the development, implementation, and execution of daily mission operations plans using advanced software and hardware systems. Serve as the primary escalation point for anomaly resolution, implementing contingency plans, and coordinating corrective actions to ensure mission continuity. Provide technical guidance to the team by leveraging in-depth knowledge of formal procedures, hardware subsystems, and operational processes. Lead cross-training efforts and certify team members in operational positions. Mentor and develop team members to ensure mission readiness and professional growth. Collaborate with program leadership to identify, prioritize, and implement process improvements relevant to the supported missions. Support testing, readiness, and training activities for new ground software and hardware systems. Coordinate and lead interactions with mission stakeholders, including customers, factory teams, and other site personnel to ensure alignment and mission success. Travel periodically to support cross-site collaboration, training, and mission integration activities. Qualifications You Must Have Typically requires a Bachelor’s in science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM preferred) and a minimum of 8 years of prior engineering experience or equivalent experience. Experience leading teams or projects in a technical or operational environment. Experience assessing and solving complex technical challenges under time-critical conditions. Experience training and certification in an operational position Experience interpreting and executing technical instructions, processes, and procedures with a high degree of accuracy. An active and transferable TS/SCI CI Poly 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 the required security clearance. Qualifications We Prefer Experience leading a team in a 24/7 operations environment with a rotating shift schedule. Working in a virtual team environment Proficient use of both Windows and UNIX operating systems Experience with Perl, Python, VBA, and/or other scripting languages Knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite Experience in the aerospace or defense industry, military operations, or satellite operations. Experience with Agile methodologies and their application in an operational environment. 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 Eligible – Relocation assistance available Learn More & Apply Now! Please consider the following role type definitions 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. 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. Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms