Research Associate Jobs in Atlanta, GA

Date Posted:

2026-09-14

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-GA-ATLANTA-100 ~ 100 Galleria Pkwy SE ~ GALLERIA

Position Role Type:

Hybrid

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

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: TS/SCI

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

At RTX, the world's 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. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

For over 70 years, RTX BBN Technologies (BBN) has solved challenging problems through research, exploration, development, and prototyping. BBN’s Non-Kinetic Capabilities and Technologies (NCT) team leverages computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, and physics to tackle customer challenges in electromagnetic warfare (EW), communications, cybersecurity, cyberspace operations, and networking for the U.S. Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers.

BBN is looking for an excellent forward-thinking candidate to drive our next technology breakthroughs and to integrate these technologies into RTX Programs of Record. You are the ideal candidate if you are a recognized high performer and leader for developing and demonstrating advanced capabilities for the DoW; you are a strong writer and communicator; you can identify and forge connections between stakeholder opportunities and our technical teams’ capabilities; you have a strong technical background in these areas with demonstrated leadership managing and growing a high performing team; and you desire an opportunity to pursue funding from technology focused government agencies (e.g. ONR, DoD Service labs and acquisition organizations) to help further U.S. National Security Objectives.

What You Will Do

• Develop and lead our efforts across the Spectrum Dominance group for a new office in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Work across the customer base, within NCT and BBN, and other RTX business units to identify capability gaps and future needs.

• Seek out opportunities to shape future research efforts to address these capability gaps.

• Propose programs to develop these technologies through the shaping of win themes, innovations, operational impact, and focus on customers’ most pressing uses cases to generate proposals and white papers.

• Lead and help to grow our team through excellent project execution while looking for opportunities to grow our footprint in Atlanta area.

• Serve as a bridge between senior management and technical staff to implement and execute strategy through detailed engineering innovation and concept development.

• Identify strengths and weaknesses of projects, deconflict and prioritize resource availability, and mentor a population of engineering staff from original requirements through to fielding operations.

• For select projects targeted for transition, will direct phases of program maturation from inception through completion. Will work as BBN liaison to RTX project teams to establish design concepts, criteria and engineering efforts for product research and development.

• Interface with larger RTX enterprise and associated business units (Pratt and Whitney, Collins Aerospace, Raytheon) to help shape their technology roadmaps, identify transition opportunities, and drive maturing research capabilities into RTX product lines.

• Travel may be required up to 25%.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires an advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations.

• Proven track record of building nationally competed advanced research and development programs spanning a range of disciplines, organizations, and missions.

• Experience managing interdisciplinary teams facing significant technical and programmatic risks.

• Experience managing and executing advanced R&D projects to include accomplishing organizational firsts or first‑known demonstrations.

• Experience in application of emerging S&T to national security challenges and deep expertise in advanced electromagnetic systems to include synthetic aperture radars, RF edge processing, digital phased arrays, Rydberg apertures, and advanced antenna design, simulation, and measurements.

• Active and transferable U.S. government issued TS/SCI security clearance is required prior to start date.

• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

• Experience writing and reviewing classified government technical specifications and generating system performance requirements.

Qualifications We Prefer

• PhD degree in Engineering, or a related STEM degree.

• Experience as a planner and execution leader for complex analyses for DoD customers.

• Excellent presentation and communication skills.

• Demonstrated success in developing future principal investigators (PI’s) through technical leadership, proposal writing, sponsor engagement, and Co‑PI assignment and mentorship.

• Experience with emerging threats and familiarity with the advanced technologies and CONOPS needed to counter these threats.

What We Offer

Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or are an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs. Some of the benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance and child/adult backup care.

• Relocation Assistance available.
• This position is onsite at our Atlanta, GA Location.

To help you achieve your goals, BBN will provide

• A strong leadership team well-versed in government and Cybersecurity.

• A collaborative and organized environment to help foster better understanding of Cybersecurity requirements, guidance, and approvals process.

• Technically competent pool of Cyber/IT team who are willing to mentor, listen, and help you refine your Cybersecurity vision and goals.

• Access to opportunities that help transition and apply security analysis during the lifecycle of systems through RTX.

Learn More & Apply Now!

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 157,200 USD - 298,800 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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