SM-3 IIA Principal Quality Engineer

Date Posted:

2026-04-22

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-AZ-TUCSON-807 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG 807

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 RTX, the world 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 freedom and deter aggression, creating a safer, more secure world. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

The SM-3 IIA Principal Quality Engineer will be creating and executing strategic initiatives to improve quality throughout SM-3 production facilities. You will collaborate with the program quality manager, program manager, program chief engineer, and other program managers to work as a trusted partner with the program office and other functions. You will drive quality efforts to ensure delivered products and services meet customer and Raytheon requirements, support program DD250s, champion risks and opportunities, identify and document gaps in expectations between extended customer base and the program implementation baseline, as well as organize cross-functional teams and utilize a data-driven approach to improve yields and quality metrics.

You will also interface with the Missile Defense Agency Assurance Representatives (MARs) on a regular basis to understand customer concerns within the production facilities and adjust engagement activities accordingly. 

This is an onsite role in Tucson, AZ

What You Will Do:

• Develop partnerships with senior managers, Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), and Factory Teams to lead and perform root cause analysis, facilitate corrective actions, and implement closed loop process controls to improve product/process predictability and capability.
• Lead and/or collaborate with MDA, Quality & Mission Assurance, and Engineering on material review board technical assessments to establish and verify requirements compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement in how we resolve nonconformance issues reducing their impact to the factories
• Creating and executing a strategic plan to improve quality throughout SM-3 production facilities and new development activities.
• Assess technical risks of non-conformances utilizing critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Conduct process and product surveillance of all program activities, including system development through the whole life cycle, system maintenance, operations, and sustainment activities.
• Review of change requests to assess technical impact.
• Support and provide oversight for failure investigations.
• Planning, coordination, and follow through of technical assessments and corrective actions.
• Organizing cross-functional teams to plan events throughout SM-3 production facilities; utilizing existing data systems to identify what processes are most cost-effective to target for improvement.
• Interfacing with external and internal customers and key stakeholders to communicate strategy and provide updates after realized improvements.
• Driving Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) Methodology throughout SM-3 production facilities.

Qualification You Must Have:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and eight (8) years of engineering experience.
• Minimum of 5 years Quality work experience.
• Working experience managing teams in a matrix environment.
• Working experience Material Review Board (MRB).
• Working experience reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications.
• 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.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Advanced Degree
• Working experience reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications.
• Experience on Missile Defense Agency programs
• Experience organizing and leading meetings with cross-functional leaders.
• Previous experience with SM-3 hardware and suppliers
• Experience as an organizational spokesperson to Senior Product Line personnel
• Experience in product development in a DoD environment
• Practical experience with statistical analysis tools
• Experience implementing APQP methodology
• Experienced coordinator of product and functional teams
• Experience using oral and written communications and interpersonal skills.

What We Offer:

• Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or are an experienced professional, we offer a 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 benefits we offer include parental (including paternal) leave, flexible work schedules, achievement awards, educational assistance, and child/adult backup care.

Additional Information:

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.

Clearance Information: This position requires a security clearance. DCSA Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), an agency of the Department of Defense, handles and adjudicates the security clearance process. More information about Security Clearances can be found on the US Department of State government website here:  https://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

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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