Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Mechanical engineers in Tucson design missile hardware on the south side, mining equipment for Caterpillar and lab instruments in Oro Valley. Tucson-area mechanical engineers averaged about $114,000 a year in the 2023 federal wage survey. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to get licensed.
Current Mechanical Engineer Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Mechanical Engineer Work in Tucson
Three very different design problems drive mechanical hiring here. At Raytheon's plant off Hermans Road near the airport, engineers model and draw missile hardware in 3D CAD under defense documentation rules. At Roche's tissue diagnostics headquarters in Oro Valley, the Instrument Development group keeps electro-mechanical instruments working in the field, running experiments and root cause studies on manufacturing issues. Caterpillar's mining business, based downtown, hires design engineers in Tucson.
South of the city along I-19, Freeport-McMoRan's Sierrita operation near Green Valley hires mechanical and reliability engineers to keep a working copper mine and mill running. That mix means a Tucson mechanical engineer can choose between cleared defense work, regulated medical devices, heavy equipment and mining, often without leaving the metro.
Top Tucson Employers for Mechanical Engineers
These Tucson-area employers hire mechanical engineers:
- Raytheon (RTX) - mechanical engineers from entry level up on the Hermans Road campus, working in 3D CAD with GD&T; U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance are required.
- Roche Tissue Diagnostics - mechanical engineers in Instrument Development at the Oro Valley campus, supporting electro-mechanical systems already on the market.
- Caterpillar - design engineers for its downtown-based mining business.
- Freeport-McMoRan - mechanical and reliability engineers at the Sierrita mine near Green Valley.
Mechanical Engineer Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (0-3 years): roughly $70,000 to $88,000 per year.
- Experienced (4-8 years): roughly $92,000 to $125,000 per year.
- Senior or principal (8+ years): roughly $125,000 to $165,000 per year, with defense and medical device roles at the top.
Federal wage data counted about 1,340 mechanical engineers in the Tucson metro in May 2023, with a mean of $114,150 a year. Posted ranges run wide: Raytheon listed a Mechanical Engineer I at $57,200 to $108,800, and Roche listed a senior mechanical engineer at $96,200 to $178,600. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
How to Become a Mechanical Engineer in Tucson
You need an accredited bachelor's in mechanical engineering or a close STEM field. The University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering is the local program, and Pima Community College's Pre-Engineering concentration at West Campus covers the first two years for students who plan to transfer.
The Arizona State Board of Technical Registration registers engineers in training after the FE exam and licenses professional engineers after the PE exam and the experience its rules require. A PE matters most for building-systems design that has to be sealed for permits. The Raytheon, Roche and Caterpillar postings reviewed for this guide asked for a degree and experience, not a PE.
What the Job Involves
Most days run through CAD and analysis: modeling parts and assemblies, checking tolerance stacks, running analysis and defending the results in a design review. Then comes hardware, with test labs, prototype builds, root cause investigations and the drawing packages and change orders that make a design buildable.
Skills Employers Look For
- 3D CAD modeling and drawing, with Creo or SolidWorks common
- GD&T per ANSI Y14.5
- PDM systems such as Windchill
- Design of experiments and root cause analysis
- Electro-mechanical system design
- U.S. citizenship and clearance eligibility for defense roles
Career Path and Advancement
The ladder runs mechanical engineer to senior and principal, then into technical leadership or engineering management. Roche's senior mechanical engineers lead cross-functional teams and mentor others. Many mid-career engineers move into systems engineering, where hardware knowledge and requirements work meet.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the disciplines mechanical engineers most often move into:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a PE license to be a mechanical engineer in Tucson?
Not for most jobs. The Raytheon, Roche and Caterpillar postings reviewed for this guide asked for a degree and experience. A PE from the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration matters most if you design building systems that need sealed drawings for permits.
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Tucson?
Federal data showed a Tucson mean of $114,150 a year in May 2023. Raytheon's entry-level Mechanical Engineer I posting ran $57,200 to $108,800, and Roche's senior mechanical engineer posting ran $96,200 to $178,600. These are estimates and vary by employer.
Does Raytheon require a security clearance for mechanical engineers in Tucson?
Yes. Its Tucson mechanical engineering postings require U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance, or eligibility for an interim clearance before the start date. Roche, Caterpillar and Freeport-McMoRan roles do not list one.
Can mechanical engineers work at the mines near Tucson?
Yes. Freeport-McMoRan has hired mechanical and reliability engineers for its Sierrita operation near Green Valley, south of Tucson along I-19. The work centers on keeping mine and mill equipment reliable.
Where do Tucson mechanical engineers study?
The University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering is the local degree program. Pima Community College's Pre-Engineering concentration at West Campus is the common lower-cost start before transferring.
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