Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer

Prattwhitney; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 132,400 - 251,600; Full time

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical design, integration, and testing across a high-priority defense program. You will guide engineering teams, manage EVMS/CAM, and monitor supplier relationships to meet program commitments. The role requires a STEM background with 10+ years in hardware development, strong leadership, and experience with GD&T and proposal inputs.

DoD Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship are required.

Qualifications

• You Must Have: STEM degree and 10+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design, integration, and production support.
• A minimum of 1 year in EVMS and CAM for full EVM (IMS baselining, Baseline Change Requests, Variance Narratives).
• Security clearance: Active DoD Secret; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to teams designing, integrating, and testing mechanical hardware for a high-priority program.
• Operate independently with strong project leadership, delegating tasks and ensuring quality and alignment with goals.
• Oversee EVMS and serve as CAM across multiple contracts; manage risks and optimize performance.
• Lead failure investigations and resolve hardware anomalies with timely problem-solving.
• Communicate program status and needs to leadership and government customers for alignment.

Skills

Mechanical design

Team leadership

Earned Value Management

Cost Account Management

GD&T

Proposal development

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree (MS/PhD)

Job description

Overview

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. The Advanced Airframes Department within Raytheon Hardware Engineering provides Mechanical Engineering support to develop solutions for products across the Raytheon portfolio. Our core mechanical engineering responsibilities include requirements/conceptual development, design, integration, and test support. We partner with several Mechanical Product Team departments to provide full system solutions. The Advanced Airframes Department is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Senior Principal Mechanical Engineer to support an integration and demonstration initiative.

The ideal candidate will possess expertise in mechanical design, team leadership, Earned Value Management, hardware design, integration, testing, and qualification. You will lead the mechanical engineering aspects of the program, providing technical guidance and oversight to ensure project commitments are successfully achieved. Additionally, the selected candidate will manage supplier relationships and may also lead efforts related to proposal development.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to teams of engineers in the architecture, design, development, integration, and testing of mechanical hardware for a high-priority advanced development program.
• Operate independently with minimal supervision, demonstrating strong project leadership capabilities, including delegating tasks effectively and reviewing the work of team members to ensure quality and alignment with program goals.
• Oversee the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) and serve as the Cost Account Manager (CAM) for multiple accounts across various contracts.
• Proactively manage mechanical risks and identify opportunities to optimize performance across multiple contracts.
• Lead and support failure investigations and resolution of hardware anomalies as required, ensuring timely and effective problem-solving.
• Regularly communicate program status, progress, and resource needs to program leadership, functional leadership, and government customers to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Collaborate effectively with higher-level functional and program management to align objectives and achieve program milestones.
• Foster strong working relationships and collaboration with customers and suppliers to ensure successful program execution.

Qualifications

• You Must Have: Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience or An Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years experience; 10 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: Mechanical product and subassembly design, integration, and production support.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience in Earned Value Management (EVMS) and Cost Account Management (CAM) of full EVM (IMS baselining, Baseline Change Requests, Variance Narratives, etc.).
• Security clearance: Active DoD Secret clearance; U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain/maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• Over 10 years of professional experience in the design, development, and testing of hardware for defense-related components or systems.
• Experience serving as a Control Account Manager (CAM).
• Expertise in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and mechanical hardware drawing practices.
• Experience in proposal development, including authoring Basis of Estimates (BOEs) and contributing material estimating inputs.
• Proven experience in supplier management and collaboration.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to document design decisions, conduct trade studies, and present findings to program leadership and customers.
• Experience with missiles or similar systems, particularly within Alternative Missions and Space environments.
• Proven ability to lead cross-disciplinary teams and manage resources, schedules, and accountability.

What We Offer

RTX values Safety, Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation. We offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, 401(k) matching, flexible spending accounts, parental leave, paid time off, holidays, and incentive programs where applicable. This role is U.S.-based, with relocation eligibility as applicable. See policy for details.

Additional Information

Onsite role definition applies; candidates may be asked to attend select interview steps in-person at one of our office locations. Salary range: 132,400 USD – 251,600 USD. 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. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in compliance with applicable laws.