Nimitz West Bldg, Portsmouth, RI

Raytheon is recruiting for multiple high-level mechanical and hardware engineering positions at its facility in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, specifically focusing on missile launcher systems.

On April 2, 2026, the company posted vacancies for a Mechanical Engineer II to serve as the Launcher Fording Test Lead and a Senior Hardware Engineer for the ESSM Missile Launcher team.

Both positions are based onsite at the Nimitz West Building, located at 1847 W Main Road. These roles operate within the Undersea & Electronics Systems (UES) Department of the Raytheon Hardware Engineering Organization.

Department and Role Scope

The UES department is responsible for the mechanical design, development and integration of a variety of defense products. This scope includes naval platforms, launchers, undersea sensors and analysis, as well as shipboard and ground-based power equipment and processing systems.

The Senior Hardware Engineer role is specifically tied to the ESSM Missile Launcher team. The broader Hardware Engineering Organization at Raytheon manages the design, production support, and development of systems across air, land, sea, and space domains.

Technical capabilities within this organization include engineering, analysis, documentation, materials, processes, and testing.

Employment and Security Requirements

Due to the nature of the defense work, U.S. Citizenship is required for these positions, as only U.S. Citizens are eligible for the necessary security clearances.

Candidates must have the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government-issued security clearance. For the Senior Hardware Engineer position, an active DoD Secret security clearance is required after the first day of employment.

Portsmouth Facility Capabilities

The Portsmouth campus employs more than 900 people and consists of two office buildings providing over 200,000 square feet of office space and 90,000 square feet of lab space.

The site is equipped with specialized infrastructure to support the development of technologically advanced platforms, including:

• A deep water test tank and overhead gantry capabilities
• Depth of ocean pressure testing
• A classified radar test pad and an abundant free-space radiation area
• A site-owned surface fleet of six vessels used for in-field testing
• Ruggedized radar cabinet build space

In addition to missile launcher systems, the Portsmouth location develops and supports a wide range of other technologies, including torpedoes, mine neutralization systems, mine hunting systems, and acoustic communications nodes.

The facility also handles radar systems, specifically Volume Search & Track radar and Over The Horizon Radar, as well as supporting infrastructure for Patriot/LTAMDS.

Site Infrastructure

The operations are centralized in the Nimitz Building, which is the largest structure on the 175-acre property, totaling approximately 446,000 square feet across three sections.

Raytheon consolidated its Portsmouth operations into the Nimitz Building following a transition period that began more than a year prior to September 2014, which involved the sale of other onsite buildings including the Providence, Constitution, and Pintado structures.