Senior Principal Opto-mechanical Engineer

RTX RTX · Aerospace · tucson, AZ +1 · Engineering

Senior Principal Opto-Mechanical Engineer at RTX, a defense company, focused on designing, developing, and integrating precision opto-mechanical subsystems for infrared and visible imaging systems. The role involves collaboration with various engineering teams, CAD design, tolerance analysis, structural/thermal analysis, hardware integration, and supporting the transition to production. Requires a STEM degree, 10+ years of experience, and a Secret security clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Collaborate across optics, structures, thermal, electronics, and systems engineering teams to develop robust mechanical architectures that enable high-performance imaging solutions.
  2. Lead concept development, detailed design, and documentation of opto-mechanical assemblies using Creo (Pro/E).
  3. Design precision structures, mounts, housings, and mechanisms supporting imaging sensors and optical assemblies.
  4. Perform tolerance analysis and apply GD&T (ANSI Y14.5) to ensure manufacturability and performance.
  5. Support structural and thermal analyses (including FEA) to validate designs.

Skills

Required

  • STEM degree
  • 10+ years of relevant experience
  • 3D CAD tools (Creo preferred)
  • Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) per ANSI Y14.5
  • Designing mechanical hardware for precision assemblies

Nice to have

  • Supporting infrared or visible imaging systems
  • Opto-mechanical design experience involving imagers, afocal assemblies, gimbals, or focus / field-of-view switching mechanisms
  • Leading a small cross-functional design team
  • Performing or collaborating on Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
  • Supporting environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal)
  • Transitioning hardware from development to production

What the JD emphasized

  • Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date
  • U.S. citizenship is required
  • Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date
  • Experience with 3D CAD tools (Creo preferred) including modeling and drawing creation.
  • Experience with Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) per ANSI Y14.5.
  • Experience designing mechanical hardware for precision assemblies.