Principal Paint and Plating Engineer

Raytheon; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

RTX in Tucson, AZ seeks a Principal Paint and Plating Engineer to support corrosion prevention, coatings development, and manufacturing processes for military applications.

You will lead painting procedures, assess supplier capability, train inspectors, and write failure analyses while ensuring design for manufacturability and process optimization. Travel up to 50% domestically and internationally is required.

Active DoD Secret clearance and US citizenship are required to work on this program.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent with 8+ years related experience, or advanced degree with 5+ years.
• Experience in painting, coatings, plating and surface finishing; training and inspection.
• Background in metallurgy and corrosion protection coatings.

Responsibilities

• Develop painting procedures, supplier process evaluation, and failure analysis.
• Train operators/inspectors; establish inspection criteria and documentation.
• Support design to manufacturing for military/defense applications; process optimization.

Skills

Paint & coatings experience

Metallurgy knowledge

Corrosion protection

Team collaboration

Documentation & reporting

Education

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Chemical Engineering

Advanced degree in related field

Job description

Date Posted

2026-08-20

Country

United States of America

Location

US-AZ-TUCSON-M02 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG M02

Position Role Type

Onsite

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

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. 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 after day 1

At Raytheon, the foundation of everything we do is rooted in our values and a higher calling – to help our nation and allies defend freedoms and deter aggression. We bring 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. Our team solves tough, meaningful problems that create a safer, more secure world.

The Process Development and Efficiency section of the Materials and Process Engineering Department is seeking an individual with technical expertise in Corrosion, Paint, Plating, and Metal Finishing to support all phases of product design and production for military and defense applications. The applicant should have a solid understanding in design for corrosion prevention and manufacturability, process selection and optimization, assessing supplier capability, failure analysis and report writing, developing painting procedures for different base materials and surface treatments, establishing inspection processes/criteria, training operators and inspectors, and experience in supplier manufacturing processes. A qualified candidate should have technical knowledge and experience developing, working with, and approving paint, coatings, and surface finishing for in-house (make) capabilities as well as at Supplier (buy) partners.

This position will require travel for up to 50% of the time (domestic and international).

The Principal Paint and Plating Engineer job is in Tucson, AZ and the position is onsite.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires A University Degree or equivalent experience and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience, or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years experience
• Experience in painting, coatings, plating, and surface finishing (i.e. procedure development and testing, operator/inspector training, fabrication problem solving and inspection)
• Experience in metallurgy, and/or galvanic corrosion, and/or protective corrosion coatings

Qualifications We Prefer

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry, Mechanical, Manufacturing or Chemical Engineering
• Experience as a technical liaison between engineering, manufacturing, and quality organizations
• Experience in interpreting engineering drawings, defense specifications and other technical material and then translating into practical procedural instructions.
• Hands‑on painting experience of either commercial or military hardware.
• Working knowledge of Military and Commercial Paint and Plating, or Surface Finishing Specifications
• Working knowledge of European (ISO) Painting and Plating Specifications
• Must be self‑motivated and possess good communication skills.
• Desire and ability to work as a team member is essential.
• Must be adaptable and willing to work in all project phases from design concepts through manufacturing.
• Practical knowledge of metal processing operations and surface treatments.
• Demonstrated problem solving skills with the ability to identify root cause and implement appropriate corrective/preventative actions in a manufacturing environment.
• Experienced in developing finishing processes for aluminum, structural carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, and nickel alloys.
• Knowledge of Design of Experiments, Six Sigma and statistical techniques.
• Experienced in auditing coating processes and working with suppliers.
• Proven mentoring and teamwork skills.
• Conversation skills in foreign languages are a plus.

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.

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 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.

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