Sr. Principal Systems Engineer - Flight Execution Lead

Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Flight Execution Lead

The Processing, Guidance, and Control center is currently hiring for a Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Flight Execution Lead position in Tucson, AZ to support the execution of the portfolio of current and upcoming missile programs. The Flight Execution Lead will provide technical leadership for a strategically important software upgrade that enhances the company's long-term competitiveness and strengthens future program pursuits.

This role oversees a cross-functional team of 25-30 engineers spanning Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC), Flight Sciences, Operational Analysis (OA), Simulation, Performance, and Mission Planning software-disciplines that collectively define system flight behavior and mission execution.

Sr. Principal Systems Engineer – Flight Execution Lead is responsible for unifying technical decisions across these areas, managing system-level risk, and ensuring all elements of flight behavior remain synchronized with program objectives and customer requirements. This position guides the development of advanced flight algorithms, integrated simulation environments, and mission-level logic essential to delivering the next generation capability. This role also includes Cost Account Management responsibilities, ensuring financial execution aligns with program scope, schedule, and technical commitments.

What You Will Do

• Provide unified leadership across all flight execution disciplines
• Ensure system-level coordination across GNC, OA, Simulation, Performance, and Mission Planning
• Drive development of advanced flight algorithms and mission-level system behaviors
• Maintain integrated simulation environments aligned with customer expectations
• Manage cross-disciplinary dependencies affecting flight dynamics and mission effectiveness
• Keep engineering efforts aligned to aggressive, customer-driven schedules
• Perform Cost Account Management duties, including planning, tracking, and reporting cost and schedule performance for assigned control accounts

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM degree and a minimum of 10 years prior relevant experience
• Experience with fluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, or applied aerodynamics
• Experience with High-Performance Computing workflows, distributed architectures, or cloud-based compute environments
• Experience with Linux/Unix operating systems
• Ability to obtain an Interim Secret U.S. government-issued Security Clearance prior to start, with ability to obtain special program access after start. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• An advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a STEM discipline
• Computational fluid dynamics and aerodynamic design experience across varied aerodynamic regimes (subsonic through hypersonic and non-continuum)
• Experience with CFD++ Strong communication skills for coordinating technical decisions across diverse engineering specialties
• Experience with Cadence Pointwise
• Experience with Tecplot, Field View, or Para View
• Experience with basic shell scripting or programming with Python
• Experience leading cross-disciplinary engineering teams (GNC, OA, Simulation, Performance, Mission Planning)
• Experience with development, integration, or verification of flight algorithms or mission-level logic
• Familiarity with system-level modeling, digital twin environments, or high-fidelity simulation architecture
• Experience with system engineering practices including requirements development, interface control, and verification/validation
• Experience managing technical risk across large, multi-disciplinary teams
• Background in Agile or iterative software development processes
• Understanding of mission analysis, weapons effectiveness, or operational scenario modeling
• Experience with Cost Account Management (EVMS, planning, tracking, and reporting control account performance)

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.
• Relocation Eligible – relocation assistance is available for this position