Airframe Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our team at our Tucson, Arizona location. In this on-site role, you will play a pivotal part as a member of a mechanical or cross-functional engineering team to design, analyze, and optimize next-generation aerospace mechanisms and structures. Your responsibilities will include leading design efforts, optimizing designs to meet demanding performance requirements, developing prototypes, and supporting testing to ensure compliance with rigorous aerospace standards. The ideal candidate will be driven by challenges, passionate about aerospace and defense, and ready to make an impact. This position may require occasional travel to collaborate with vendors, support hardware procurement, oversee testing processes, and engage in related activities as needed.

What You Will Do

• Conceptualize and implement innovative technical solutions to address a wide range of complex challenges throughout the product lifecycle, including proposal development, advanced design, manufacturing, integration, testing, and support of missiles, launchers, support equipment, and electronics for military programs.
• Operate with limited oversight to serve in a Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) role, often performing in a project management capacity for entire subsystems or systems.
• Conduct comprehensive mechanical design analyses using engineering principles to ensure design intent aligns with form, fit, and function for specific use applications.
• Provide leadership to small teams by leveraging extensive mechanical hardware design expertise in a dynamic, collaborative environment, working across disciplines such as structures, thermal, systems, harness and interconnects, electronics packaging, tooling, and system integration.
• Lead mechanical engineering efforts, collaborating with cross-functional teams—including engineering disciplines, operations, supply chain, quality, and external suppliers—to resolve technical challenges and deliver effective design solutions.
• Work independently under limited oversight to manage assignments, ensuring timely delivery within scope, budget, and technical requirements.
• Participate in design reviews and facilitate trade studies to support data-driven and strategic engineering decisions.
• Mentor and provide guidance to less experienced engineers, fostering skill development and contributing to team technical excellence.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 5 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years experience.
• Experience in mechanical design, and/or advanced design development, and/or manufacturing processes, and/or tooling processes, or related disciplines.
• Experience in developing, creating, releasing, and updating engineering drawings using a 3D CAD design tool.
• Experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T); such as tolerance analysis, and expertise in interpreting and applying drawing practices for mechanical hardware.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Bachelor's or Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering and experience with Airframe design.
• Proven expertise in airframe development, electronics packaging, and mechanisms tailored for missiles or comparable applications.
• Proficiency in utilizing CREO CAD design and documentation tools within a structured configuration and data management environment.
• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft Office tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, for technical analysis, data organization, plotting, and documentation.
• Hands-on experience in thermal and structural analyses, or in collaborating with analysts to define requirements and develop designs aligned with environmental conditions.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, fostering trust, respect, and innovation to achieve shared objectives.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with a track record of effectively documenting design activities, conducting trade studies, and delivering presentations and reports to program management and external stakeholders.
• Proven leadership experience in managing and guiding small teams to achieve project goals.
• Proven experience in managing and coordinating with suppliers for the fabrication and production of mechanical hardware.
• Strong capability to work independently with minimal oversight, exhibiting high levels of self-motivation, accountability, and initiative.
• Proficiency in utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM) methodologies or serving as a Control Account Manager (CAM) to oversee project cost and schedule performance effectively.
• Existing DoD Secret or Top-Secret Clearance.

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.
• Relocation Eligible

Learn More & Apply Now!

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.
• This position requires onsite work in Tucson, AZ: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-tucson,-az-location

This position is onsite at our campus in beautiful Tucson, AZ. Tucson has a friendly, caring, and laid-back atmosphere, combined with the innovation and energy of a metropolitan region, and recognized as one of America’s 10 Best Small Cities. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, colorful Sonoran Desert landscape and majestic saguaro cacti, Tucson is blessed with some of nature’s best work. Tucson is known for its bright blue skies, and with more than 310 sunny days per year, Tucson’s fantastic weather lets residents enjoy the outdoors year-round.

Virtual Fly Over City of Tucson & Community, YouTube Video Links

• “Raytheon In Tucson”: https://careers.rtx.com/global/en/raytheon-tucson,-az-location
• “Tucson is Awesome”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i65wOwKcNIQ
• “Winter in Tucson”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZdKKkF0QkE