Principal Engineer Jobs in Arizona
Principal Engineer jobs in Arizona are highly active, with strong demand concentrated in aerospace and defense, semiconductor manufacturing, and enterprise technology sectors at every level from mid-career to staff and distinguished engineer. Phoenix and Tucson anchor most of the hiring, with Scottsdale and Chandler also drawing significant openings, and established employers like Raytheon Technologies, Intel, and Intel-connected fabs alongside Honeywell's aerospace division maintain a consistent presence in the state. The most in-demand specialties are systems engineering, embedded firmware, and hardware architecture for defense and advanced manufacturing programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Date Posted:
2026-06-15Country:
United States of AmericaLocation:
US-AZ-TUCSON-M02 ~ 1151 E Hermans Rd ~ BLDG M02Position Role Type:
OnsiteU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearanceSecurity Clearance Type:
DoD Clearance: SecretSecurity Clearance Status:
Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start dateAt 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 Effector RF Team at Raytheon is seeking a talented Senior Principal Engineer to join our team in Tucson, AZ. The candidate will be responsible for leading and shaping the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of RF subsystems and sensors within missile products. The selected candidate will be expected to provide technical oversight, delegate tasks, and work with the Engineering organization to establish technology roadmaps, enable modernization, and contribute to general innovation. In addition, the candidate will interface with government personnel and program leadership on a regular basis. The candidate will be responsible for providing guidance, coaching, mentoring, and training to other employees across the business within the candidate’s areas of expertise.
This position is an onsite role, located in Tucson, AZ.
What You Will Do
Specify, design, and test advanced RF sensors and subsystems across frequencies from MHz through millimeter-wave.
Decompose system-level requirements into detailed RF component requirements.
Measure RF components/sensors/subsystems, including performance in chamber and range environments.
Perform modeling and analysis of link budgets, RF cascades, electromagnetic emissions (EME), antenna patterns, phase noise, receiver sensitivity, transmitter power, spurious signals, modulation, isolation, and ADC characteristics.
Qualifications You Must Have
Master of Science degree in Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM)
A minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience, or a PhD in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience to include any combination of the following:
Design, integration, and/or test of RF subsystems
Design, integration, and/or test of RF sensors
Experience interacting across engineering disciplines (e.g. Systems, Mechanical, SW, Algorithms, etc.) to define RF subsystem requirements and evaluate performance
Ability to obtain INTERIM U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date with the ability to obtain special program access after start.
Qualifications We Prefer
Advanced knowledge of RF component technologies, including circuit card assemblies (CCAs), waveguides, planar/printed antennas, RF modules, and monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs).
Experience performing Link Budget analyses.
Understanding of antenna patterns and RF measurements with antennas and electronics.
Expertise in concepts such as phase noise, mixer conversion spurs, automatic gain control (AGC), sensitivity, intermodulation distortion (IMD), bit error rate, instantaneous bandwidth, adjacent channel interference, and ADC measurements/calculations (Nyquist and SFDR).
Familiarity with equipment such as Spectrum Analyzers, Network Analyzers, Signal Generators, and Arbitrary Waveform Generators (ARB Generators).
Strong understanding of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic vulnerability (EMV) along with mitigation strategies in RF systems.
Excellent written communication and oral presentation skills.
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.
This position offers relocation based on candidate eligibility.
Learn More & Apply Now!
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 132,400 USD - 251,600 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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See All 150+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Arizona
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Find Principal Engineer JobsPrincipal Engineer Jobs by City in Arizona
Where Arizona roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Principal Engineer Job Market in Arizona
A snapshot from current Arizona openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Raytheon75

- Northrop Grumman13

- Honeywell Aerospace8
- Freeport-McMoRan4

- Western Alliance Bank4

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Banking & Financial Services
What Arizona Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Arizona.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical, mechanical, systems, or computer engineering required
- Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
- Experience leading cross-functional design reviews and driving architecture decisions to production
- Proficiency in systems-level development including requirements definition, integration, and verification
- Active or obtainable DoD security clearance preferred for Arizona defense and aerospace roles
- Strong background in model-based systems engineering tools such as MATLAB, SysML, or equivalent
Principal Engineer Jobs in Arizona: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a principal engineer in Arizona?
Reaching a principal engineer role in Arizona typically requires a bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, though many employers in aerospace and semiconductor sectors prefer a master's. Arizona does not require a Professional Engineer license for most industry-side principal engineer positions, but earning a PE through the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration strengthens candidacy for roles on public infrastructure or defense contracts. Most paths run through senior or staff engineer positions first.
Which companies hire principal engineers in Arizona?
Employers hiring principal engineers in Arizona right now include Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell Aerospace, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Arizona's concentration of defense primes, chip fabrication facilities, and enterprise software companies means hiring cycles are relatively steady year-round compared to other markets.
Which Arizona cities have the most principal engineer jobs?
Tucson, Phoenix, and Chandler account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Arizona. Phoenix dominates because of its dense cluster of aerospace, semiconductor, and technology company campuses, while Tucson draws heavily from defense programs at major contractors near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and smaller cities like Chandler and Scottsdale benefit from Intel's fab operations and a growing software sector.
Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Arizona?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely software-focused fields. About 26% of principal engineer openings tied to Arizona are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that many roles here involve hands-on lab work, hardware integration, or classified facilities. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote flexibility are software architecture, cloud platform engineering, and systems analysis that do not require physical access to hardware or secure facilities.
How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Arizona with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is entering through a rotational engineering program or new-grad associate engineer role, then building toward the principal level over time. Large Arizona employers in aerospace and defense, including Raytheon Technologies and Honeywell, run structured new-graduate and early-career engineering programs. Moving from a senior software engineer, systems analyst, or hardware design engineer role is a common lateral entry. Earning an EIT certification through the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration or completing a relevant graduate program at Arizona State University or the University of Arizona adds measurable credibility.
Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Arizona?
You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Arizona on Migrate Mate, which lists current Arizona openings across aerospace, semiconductor, defense, and technology sectors. Find the roles that fit your background and apply directly from the listings on this page.
See All 150+ Principal Engineer Jobs in Arizona
Find roles in Arizona that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Principal Engineer Jobs