Principal Systems Operations Engineer

Date Posted:

2026-10-29



Country:

United States of America



Location:

US-VA-SPRINGFIELD-7500-CUST ~ 7500 Geoint Dr ~ GEOINT (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 Polygraph



Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. With a strong focus on Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that make the world a safer place.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Systems Operations Engineer supporting one of our premier programs within Raytheon, an RTX Business, in the Space Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (SISR) business unit. As part of the Systems Integration and Test (SI&T) organization, your expertise in system operations, troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and collaboration with contractors and government personnel will be critical to mission success. You will support operational readiness, system availability, anomaly resolution, baseline installations, and the resolution of complex operational issues in a mission-critical environment. The work is on-site in Springfield, VA.

What You Will Do

• Lead and coordinate baseline installations in operational environments

• Monitor, track, analyze, and report system availability and performance metrics

• Troubleshoot complex operational issues, resolve anomalies, and lead system recovery efforts

• Generate weekly, monthly, and ad hoc system availability and performance reports

• Represent the program in technical exchange meetings and customer briefings

• Lead efforts to resolve systems engineering, integration, and operational issues

• Coordinate with cross-functional engineering teams, contractors, and government personnel to plan and execute operational activities

• Monitor, track, and manage operational workloads to support mission requirements

• Provide technical guidance and backup support to technical leadership during meetings and briefings

• Support 24/7 operations, including off-hours call-in as needed

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience

• Experience in systems engineering, particularly in operations and maintenance environments

• Experience troubleshooting complex systems, analyzing operational anomalies, and supporting system recovery

• Experience working independently, exercising sound technical judgment, and resolving complex technical issues

• Active and transferable U.S. government-issued DoD TS/SCI clearance with polygraph is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience working in a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) environment

• Experience in satellite ground system development or operations

• Experience in relevant project domains, such as mission management ground systems or space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms

• Experience working in Linux environments, particularly Red Hat, Experience with programming languages such as Java, C++, or Python

• Experience with cloud environments and modern infrastructure, Experience with Oracle or similar database technologies

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

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 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 U.S. Department of State website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

Location: Springfield, VA: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-springfield-va-location

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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