Senior Principal EO-IR Research Lead

Date Posted:

2026-03-03

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-VA-ARLINGTON-111 ~ 1300 17Th St N ~ BBN ARLINGTON

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: Top Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

RTX Corporation is an Aerospace and Defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 185,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, VA.

Leadership and Strategy

Technology Innovation: Working with radiofrequency and cyber subject matter experts across NCT, create and then advance a research portfolio for BBN to develop advanced concepts for sensor defeat and countermeasure development.

Change Management: Engage and actively participate in ongoing research programs to gain an appreciation of the current team’s capabilities to help identify potential launch points for your own research portfolio

Task Oversight: Lead cross-functional teams performing business development, research pursuits, proposal technical writing, and program execution

Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with Fellows and PI’s to ensure EO/IR research initiatives align with BBN – NCT goals and priorities.

Strategic Growth: Articulate hiring needs, participate in the recruitment and hiring process, and then develop top-notch personnel to round out the team required to pursue your research portfolio

Program Execution: Working closely with program managers to ensure the successful completion of the research initiatives

Technical Expertise and Execution

• Innovative Research: Design and analyze EO/IR signal processing algorithms and software

• Research Transitions: Facilitate transitions to customers and across RTX via demonstrations, tests, and prototypes

• Collaboration and Customer Engagement

• Partnership Development: Build relationships with other companies and academia partners to augment and extend internal BBN knowledge, skillsets, and capabilities for your desired research portfolio

• Cross-RTX Coordination: Interface with the larger RTX enterprise and associated business units (Pratt and Whitney, Collins Aerospace, Raytheon) to identify transition opportunities and drive maturing research into product lines

• Customer Communication: Distinguish BBN and yourself to customers by leading and performing cutting edge research, publishing, and participating in conferences and workshops

Qualifications You Must Have *

• MS with 7+ years of relevant experience, or BS with 10+ years of relevant experience in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or related field

• Demonstrated proficiency in EO/IR and/or countermeasure technologies, including survivability assessments and characterization in one or more warfighting domains

• Experience with application of EO/IR phenomenology to include physics-based modelling and/or simulation

• Experience/understanding the employment of EO/IR sensors and countermeasures to mission CONOPs in one or more warfighting domains 

• Experience developing and leading research and development teams and programs

• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams across diverse geographic locations and organizational level

• Experience writing government research funding proposals in relevant areas

• Broad understanding of government customer base current and emerging needs

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in relevant topics

• Active TS clearance with eligibility to obtain SCI

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience in the modeling of EO/IR systems to assess mission performance

• Experience transitioning/integrating EO/IR technologies and capabilities into systems

• Ability to provide visionary technical leadership and desire to grow and lead a group to achieve that vision

• Excellent mentor, coach, and educator

• Experience performing on or managing advanced technology programs

• Test and evaluation or validation/verification experience of EO/IR technologies

What We Offer

Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or are an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs. Some of the benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance and child/adult backup care.

•            Relocation Assistance available

•            This position is Onsite at our Arlington, VA  office

To help you achieve your goals, BBN will provide:

• A strong leadership team well-versed in government R&D.
• A collaborative and collegial environment to push state-of-the-art research.
• Technically competent pool of research scientists who are willing to mentor, listen, and help you refine your research vision and goals.
• Business development, programmatic, contracting, finance, and HR support.
• Access, through RTX, to opportunities that help transition your research and ultimately see it fielded.

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 145,600 USD - 276,800 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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