Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Production Chief Engineer

RTX; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 157,000 - 299,000; Full time

Job summary

RTX in Tucson, AZ seeks a Production Chief Engineer responsible for technical and engineering aspects of ESSM Production contracts. The role leads a 120-person multi-discipline team across factories and suppliers, with contracts valued over $2B.

Requirements include Level 4 Chief Engineer certification or equivalent, strong leadership, and active DoD Secret clearance. Travel 10-20% and onsite work in Tucson are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in STEM and at least 12 years of relevant experience.
• Technical leadership across development and production lifecycles.
• Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams and mentor engineers.
• Experience with production contracts and government interfaces.
• Must have DoD Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Chair engineering reviews, configuration control and failure review boards.
• Provide technical leadership for production and sustainment engineering activities.
• Influence decisions to balance technical solutions and customer needs.
• Establish program structure, risk posture, strategy, and execution plans.
• Coordinate with LSE Industrial Partner and supplier technical oversight and customer TechRep.

Skills

Technical leadership

Production engineering

System development

Multi-discipline teams

Budget management

US government interface

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in STEM

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-08-26

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-AZ-TUCSON-810 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG 810 (External Site)

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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: Secret

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.

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.

The Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) program is seeking a Production Chief Engineer.The ESSM Production Chief Engineer is responsible for all technical and engineering aspects of ESSM Production contracts. Current active contracts have a value of over$2B. This role requires leading a multi-disciple engineering team of120 engineering heads.The ESSM product continues to grow as there are ongoing efforts to increase production capacity in support of 12 consortium nations. The Production Chief Engineer has technical oversight and is responsible for multiple factories and suppliers. The current supply base includes12 Industrial Partners within the US and across11 countries with multiple layers of sub tiers.

This Chief Engineer will be responsible for the technical rigor and coordination across functions within the program.The ideal candidate will have leadership experience leading large, complex teams.The candidate will also need prior multidiscipline engineering knowledge and experience. The Chief Engineer will be expected to mentor lead engineers both technically and with their career and will lead the technical execution of the production contracts.

In this role, minimum certification as a Level 4 Chief Engineer (within Raytheon) is required or equivalent is required to ensure that Raytheon Chief Engineer values and behaviors can be applied daily to this complex portfolio.

This position is located onsite in Tucson, AZ and requires 10-20% travel.

What You Will Do

• Chair Engineering Reviews, Configuration Control and Failure Review Boards.
• Provide technical leadership of all Production and Sustainment engineering activities focused on providing fast and technically viable resolution paths for supplier and factory issues.
• Provide influence and decision making to achieve a balanced technical solution which satisfies the customer’s needs and provides positive financial impact to the business.
• Establish and reinforce the program’s technical organizational structure, risk posture, strategy, and execution plans.
• Communicate across functions and with the technical leads and LSE Industrial Partner and supplier technical oversight and technical engagement and collaboration with customer TechRep.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant experience unless prohibited by local laws/regulations.
• Technical leadership of teams across the development and production lifecycle including developing work plans and driving execution.
• System development and design, requirements development, management, and verification, system integration and test, and production.
• Modular systems architectures and product lines.
• Experience managing resources with multi-million-dollar annual budgets.
• Experience in leading technical teams in support of production, and US Government customer interface.
• RMD Level 4 Certified Chief Engineer.
• The ability to travel 10-20%.
• Active and transferable Secret U.S. government-issued security clearance is required before start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer

• RMD Level 3 Certified Chief Engineer.
• Experience working programs with significant international scope.
• Excellent communication, technical writing, oral presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in leading and executing the design, development, and production of complex system architectures.
• Demonstrated experience across the product lifecycle, including concept development, architecture, design, integration, verification, and production.
• Proven ability to develop effective internal and external customer relationships to ensure customer satisfaction and continued business.
• Direct experience with Engineering Risks and Opportunities (R&O) Management.

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.
• Not Relocation Eligible – Relocation assistance not available.

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.