Optical Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)

Date Posted: 2026-09-22 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-CARLSBAD-582 ~ 2752 Loker Ave W ~ LOKER 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. What You Will Do As an Optical Engineering Intern at Collins Aerospace Optronics, you will have the opportunity to work with Mechanical, Optical, Systems and Electrical Engineers on the design, analysis, development, and testing of complex optical and visual display systems. At Collins Aerospace Optronics, we develop and build unique optical systems for space, simulator, airborne and body-worn environments. Apply knowledge of the characteristics and behaviors of light to help design high-precision optical and visual display systems. Aid in the design of optical components, and help determine methods of optical system performance testing Prepare technical documentation including optical models, drawings, procedures and methods Support project lifecycle from design through testing Support trade studies and contribute to continuous process improvement activities What You Will Learn Gain knowledge in design, analysis and tolerancing of complex optical assemblies. Hands on experience of assembly and testing of precision optical, and visual display systems Increase your understanding of design for manufacturability Qualifications You Must Have Must be pursuing a Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Aerospace Engineering and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co-op session. Experience may be obtained through on-the-job experience, research, coursework, or projects. Qualifications We Prefer Experience using optical design tools such as Zemax, or Code V Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and/or Outlook) Coursework or project experience involving optical system setup, alignment, or characterization (lasers, telescopes, visual display systems, and/or spectrometers) Experience with optical metrology equipment such as interferometers, profilometers, MTF test equipment Experience with basic optical engineering principles, including optical alignment methods, techniques, and tools used for setting up and verifying optical systems. 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 Eligibility 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. 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 42,000 USD - 88,000 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. Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms