Optical Engineer Intern (Summer 2027)

Date Posted:

2026-11-02

 Country:

United States of America

 Location:

US-TX-MCKINNEY-513WB ~ 2501 W University Dr ~ WING B BLDG

 Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

 Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

 Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

Are you ready to explore the world of aerospace and defense? Do you want to learn from and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the industry? At RTX, our internships, co-ops and full-time careers provide an exceptional foundation to work on complex problems, advance your skills and create a safer, more connected world. Discover opportunities to make a difference at RTX.

The Airborne & Ground Optics Department at Raytheon supports our customers’ missions by providing advanced Electro-Optical / Infrared (EO/IR) and Laser products and solutions. Our organization helps drive the success of Raytheon’s programs across all phases of the product lifecycle, from initial concept through design, development, integration, production and sell-off.

This technical internship opportunity will allow the ideal candidate to apply their classroom and lab knowledge in the areas of optics and lasers to help a team of engineers solve some of our nation’s most challenging technical problems. Examples of the types of projects we work on include advanced imaging telescopes, spectrometers, lasers, ladars, and special test equipment.

This is an onsite position at our McKinney, TX location.

What You Will Do

• •Assist junior and senior level engineers with optical design tasks
• •Work in a cleanroom environment and learn hands-on laser and optical alignment techniques
• •Help prepare lab and cleanroom spaces for the building and testing of laser or optical systems
• •Learn about and participate in the setup and operation of special optical test equipment and analysis of test data
• •Participate in lab safety activities such as helping prepare safety documentation and presentations required for the startup of new build and test activities
• •Prepare and present a presentation pertaining to project(s) worked

Qualifications You Must Have

• •Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or related (STEM) major and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session
• •Must have a minimum of 60 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co-op session
• •Experience may be obtained through on-the-job experience, research, coursework, or projects

Qualifications We Prefer

• •Experience working in a laboratory environment through university coursework or through previous research positions or internships. This includes experience with data and error analysis.
• •Experience working with lasers
• •An undergraduate level understanding of the fundamentals of optics, lasers, electromagnetic propagation, and the interaction of light with materials.
• •Demonstrated leadership experience through school or extracurricular projects

What We Offer

• •Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.
• •Relocation Eligibility

Learn More & Apply Now

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.

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 37,000 USD - 82,000 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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