Principal Materials Engineer - Failure Analysis Lab

Raytheon; McKinney (TX); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite role

Relocation assistance

Total rewards package

Job summary

Raytheon’s Failure Analysis Lab in McKinney, TX seeks a Principal Materials Engineer to lead failure analysis of electronic components and assemblies. You will operate SEM/EDS/WDS, perform metallurgical evaluations, and generate detailed analysis reports supporting programs.

You will guide junior engineers, apply advanced materials testing, and collaborate with a cross-functional team to improve processes and products for defense applications.

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree with 8+ years of experience or advanced degree with 5+ years.
• Subject matter expert in materials engineering principles and concepts.
• Advanced knowledge of lab analytical tools (SEM/EDS/WDS, UTM, thermal analysis, optical microscopes).
• Ability to author technical reports and present to stakeholders.
• Mentor to lower-level engineers; strong MS Office skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary SEM operator and lead materials analysis efforts.
• Prepare formal analysis reports and support program decisions with data.
• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team and maintain laboratory equipment.

Skills

SEM operator

Materials analysis

Metallurgical evaluations

Failure analysis

Tensile testing

Hardness testing

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

SEM/EDS/WDS

Instron universal testing machine

Optical microscopes

Focused Ion Beam (FIB)

CAD (SOLIDWORKS/Creo/Catia)

MATLAB

Job description

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

Date Posted: 2026-08-04

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

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 Failure Analysis Lab (FAL) located in McKinney, Texas, promotes process and product improvement through failure analysis and analytical services. Our team consists of a staff of engineers and scientists with varied backgrounds (EE, ME, Chemistry, Materials Science, Metallurgy, etc.) and broad experience. Team members provide support to Raytheon programs, suppliers, and end users by conducting thorough investigations of failure events and supporting a variety of data collection activities to enable successful program execution and address the evolving needs of the electronics and defense industries.

The Principal Materials Engineer - Failure Analysis Lab is an onsite role in McKinney, TX.

What You Will Do

The posted requisition is for a member of Failure Analysis Team, which is responsible for root cause failure analysis of Raytheon products including components, mechanical assemblies, systems, and manufacturing materials. The candidate will serve as the primary Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) operator and is expected to have knowledge and experience with materials analysis including metallurgical evaluations, fracture analysis, tensile strength, peel strength, hardness, fatigue testing, etc., specifically as it relates to the electronics industry. The candidate should possess some knowledge of the theory and operation of various analytical tools including SEM / Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) / Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS), universal testing machines (e.g., Instron), thermal analysis tools, optical microscopes, focused ion beam (FIB), etc. The preparation of formal analysis reports to substantiate any failure conclusions and recommend solutions to programs will be required. Good interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills are essential. The candidate will be expected to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team with some oversight by Sr. engineers and will be responsible for maintenance of the tools, audit preparations, etc.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years’ experience
• Viewed as a subject matter expert with regards to principles, theories, and concepts within the materials engineering field.
• Advanced theoretical knowledge of lab analytical tools such as universal testing machines, thermal analysis tools, optical microscopes, SEM, EDS/WDS, etc.
• Ability to independently author cogent technical reports and deliver presentations (verbal and/or written) to key stakeholders.
• Provides mentorship to lower-level professional engineers
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).

Qualifications We Prefer

• Advanced degree in Materials Science or related engineering field with relevant job experience.
• Job related experience with various lab equipment, including SEM/EDS, universal testing machines, thermal analysis tools, optical microscopes, FIB, etc.
• Good understanding of relevant industry standards (ASTM, MIL-STD, IPC, etc.).
• Experience with sample preparation techniques.
• Experience with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing methods and knowledgeable in reading mechanical fabrication and assembly drawings.
• Experience with CAD design tools such as SOLIDWORKS, Catia, and/or PTC Creo.
• Experience with data collection and analysis tools such as MATLAB, Mathcad, etc.
• Experience with image processing tools utilizing machine learning & automated recognition techniques.
• Knowledge of Finite Element Analysis (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, etc.).
• Familiarity with in-situ experimentation methods in SEM.
• Laboratory experience in assessing mechanical properties of materials such as tensile strength, shear strength, fatigue life, dielectric strength, and other material properties.
• Ability to complete analysis work using problem solving skills and perform in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong customer interaction skills with engineers of all levels.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to multi-task.
• Demonstrated leadership through school, extracurricular projects, or job-related experiences.

What We Offer

• Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or is an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package that goes above and beyond with compensation; healthcare, wellness, retirement and work/life benefits; career development and recognition programs. Some of the superior benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance, and child/adult backup care.
• Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:
• 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.
• Relocation Eligible - relocation assistance is available for this position

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.