Darpa Program Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted:

2026-04-24

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-GOLETA-B01 ~ 6825 Cortona Dr ~ BLDG B01

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. 

Raytheon brings the strength of more than 100 years of experience and renowned engineering expertise to meet the needs of today’s mission and stay ahead of tomorrow’s threat. We deliver solutions that help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Raytheon Vision Systems is seeking a Portfolio Chief Engineer to shape and lead the technical execution of our Emerging Innovation Technology portfolio. The Portfolio Chief Engineer is the single engineering leadership point of contact for the Emerging Innovations Portfolio and is responsible for the engineering execution of an entire portfolio of programs.  The Portfolio Chief Engineer will work with the Product Line Director and Program Managers to establish and manage the portfolio’s vision, strategy and goals.  Additionally, this individual will be responsible for program and customer requirement alignment while leading a multi-disciplined engineering team in resolving complex technical problems.  The Portfolio Chief Engineer is also responsible for establishing a technical baseline, developing a product roadmap, engaging senior customers, developing product families, setting product line vision, strategy and goals, and proposal development across the product line. The Portfolio Chief Engineer is also the primary directorate technical point of contact with the customer’s senior technical and programmatic counterparts.

This position is onsite in based in Goleta, California. Travel up to 25% will be required.

What You Will Do

• Ensure successful end‑to‑end technical execution, meeting performance, cost, schedule, and risk objectives across the program lifecycle across a portfolio of programs .
• Define program technical risk posture and deliver balanced, technically sound risk-mitigation strategies.
• Own the Portfolio system architecture, technical baseline, requirements, and interface control documents (ICDs).
• Lead technical trade studies, modeling/simulation, flow-downs, verification/validation strategies, and test plans.
• Ensure technical integrity and compliance to performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturability objectives.
• Manage a team of Engineering IPT leads for EI programs (IRAD/CRAD and early-phase CRs), integrating plans across disciplines.
• Drive technical risk/opportunity management, performance parameter tracking, and corrective actions using EVMS data.
• Serve as the primary technical face with RTX leadership, suppliers, and customers (e.g., DARPA, AFRL, ONR, NAVSEA, MDA, prime integrators).
• Author and present technical content: briefs, test reports, demo plans/results, and maturation roadmaps.
• Accelerate TRL/MRL growth for EO/IR technologies and subsystems.
• Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and quality to enable DFM/DFT and production transition readiness.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience.
• Experience as Chief Engineer/Technical Lead for complex electro-optical or sensing systems.
• Experience in EO/IR system development: focal plane arrays, ROICs, optics, cryogenic systems, sensor calibration, and data paths.
• Experience with program design reviews, integration & test, verification/validation, and readiness reviews.
• Experience with EVMS, risk management, and technical metrics; ability to balance performance/cost/schedule.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with government advanced development programs (DARPA/AFRL/ONR) and prime integration partners.
• Experience with environmental/qualification testing reliability, and manufacturability
• Familiarity with cryocoolers, vacuum packaging, microelectronics assembly, and precision opto-mechanical design.
• Proposal leadership (SOW/BOE development), WBS planning, staffing forecasts, and cost-volume authorship.
• Demonstrated IP generation (patents/disclosures) and publications in relevant technical domains.
• Ability to mentor and develop technical leads, IPT owners, and early‑career engineers.
• Excellent communication skills; strong customer-facing presence and technical storytelling.
• Demonstrated ability to define technology roadmaps, influence product line strategy, and guide long-term investment planning.

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.

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), an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here: https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm 

• Goleta, CA: Raytheon Goleta, CA Location

• We Are RTX

#LI-Onsite

#LI-HS30

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 172,900 USD - 328,700 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.

Privacy Policy and Terms:

Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms