Principal Software Engineer Lead - High Energy Laser (HEL) Beam Director Product Owner

Raytheon seeks a Principal Software Engineer Lead to serve as the senior technical guide and product owner for the High Energy Laser (HEL) Beam Director product. This onsite role in McKinney, TX supports disciplined software execution across multiple baselines and requires an active, transferable Secret clearance prior to start.

Onsite Location

This position is onsite at Raytheon’s campus in McKinney, TX, United States. Applicants must be in the area or willing to relocate to McKinney.

Role Summary

As Principal Software Engineer Lead, you will lead senior-level engineering activities for HEL Beam Director software, including product ownership for disciplined execution across multiple baselines. The role includes architectural and systems thinking support, agile technical scope delivery, and close collaboration with senior systems engineers and cross-functional technical leads.

Responsibilities

• Delegate and review work from lower-level engineers to ensure disciplined implementation of major system algorithms including tracking, alignment, coordinate transformation, sensor line-of-sight, image alignment, and laser-enabled operations.
• Review code, validate algorithm behavior, communicate technical rationale clearly, and influence engineering practices and procedures for steady program execution.
• Provide senior systems thinking and architectural support, including development of CONOPS, specification tree structures, and multi-CSCI decomposition to resolve complex customer-critical issues.
• Integrate across disciplines and maintain technical momentum with minimal oversight while working effectively with senior architects and technical fellows.
• Apply system-of-systems expertise across inter-CSCI and LRU interfaces, requirement flows, and hardware/software integration to drive clarity across sensor and processing capabilities.
• Lead agile execution of the software technical scope across all program baselines, including coordinated planning, prioritized backlog execution, and alignment with evolving product-line objectives.
• Collaborate with senior systems engineers and cross-functional technical leads to support integration, verification, and delivery across Archerfish, Apache, and MQ-9 simultaneous efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant engineering experience.
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience developing or supporting real-time embedded software for mission-critical systems.
• Experience implementing and validating real-time algorithms and supporting SW/HW integration on embedded platforms.
• Experience communicating and collaborating with teams, translating technical considerations into clear and actionable guidance, and working in rapid-execution and multi-baseline programs.
• Active and transferable Secret U.S. government security clearance required prior to start date, with ability to obtain Special Program Access after start.
• U.S. citizenship required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active and transferable Top Secret security clearance with Special Program Access.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to guide technical development, mentor engineers, and lead software teams through complex lifecycle activities.
• Proven effectiveness in rapid-execution, multi-baseline programs.
• Experience with EO/IR or sensor-based targeting systems.
• Familiarity with agile processes including Scrum, Continuous Integration, and automated testing methods.
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence aided development.
• Experience coordinating across multiple product lines or quick-reaction capability programs.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring junior engineers, coordinating small technical initiatives, facilitating team collaboration, driving engineering best practices, and/or guiding peers toward successful delivery.

Technologies

• Real-time embedded software
• EO/IR algorithms
• Real-time algorithms
• SW/HW integration
• Agile processes
• Scrum
• Continuous Integration
• Automated testing methods

Compensation

The salary range for this position is USD 107,500 - 204,500 per year.

Benefits

• Relocation offered based on eligibility
• 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
• Holidays
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (not guaranteed)

Security Clearance Information

This position requires a security clearance. The security clearance process is handled and adjudicated by DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), an agency of the Department of Defense.

Hiring Process Notes

• Onsite roles will work primarily onsite.
• Candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of Raytheon’s office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid, or remote.