Principal Paint and Plating Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

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

Holidays

Annual incentive program

Job summary

Raytheon in Tucson, AZ is seeking a Principal Paint and Plating Engineer to support corrosion prevention, paint procedures, and surface finishing for defense applications. The role requires strong experience in process development and supplier coordination onsite.

The candidate should have a degree in a related field with significant experience in coatings, plating, and corrosion protection, and be capable of training operators and inspectors as well as performing failure analyses.

Qualifications

• University Degree or equivalent with 8+ years experience, or an Advanced Degree with 5+ years.
• Experience painting, coatings, plating, and surface finishing; including development and testing.
• Metallurgy, galvanic corrosion, and protective coatings experience required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and approve paint, coatings, and surface finishing procedures.
• Train operators and inspectors; establish inspection criteria and tests.
• Assess supplier capabilities; work with in-house and supplier processes.
• Root cause analysis and corrective actions in manufacturing environments.

Skills

Painting

Coatings

Plating

Surface finishing

Procedures development

Operator training

Failure analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry or related

Advanced degree preferred

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.

Process Development and Efficiency Section of the Materials and Process Engineering Department

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

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

• 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

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.

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. 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.

• 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
• holidays
• annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs

The Role Type and Work Arrangement

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.

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.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.