Raytheon is ramping up hiring at its missile plants in Tucson, AZ to meet increased demand for weapon systems driven by the Ukraine conflict and emerging U.S. security threats. The company is Tucson’s largest employer with around 12,000 workers. Raytheon has tapped into using flexible and hybrid work schedules, offering sign-on bonuses for critical positions, and utilizing AI to screen job candidates to help meet hiring initiatives.
Raytheon is also driving internships and apprenticeships and calls for streamlining the Pentagon’s security clearance process to adapt to the tight labor market and evolving job prospects in the defense industry, especially for engineers. The company’s program to fast-track junior engineers through apprenticeships is a key component of its recruitment strategy. But the challenge to meet degree requirements, as well as, hire the right security clearance level, often leaves Raytheon with about 300 open positions in Tucson. The defense contractor wants Congress to do more to push skills-based hiring for contractors and tighten up classification requirements.
Layoffs: Navistar Defense
Navistar Defense, a manufacturer of military vehicles, trailers, and shipping containers, is set to lay off 100 to 200 employees in two phases, with the first round in October and the second in November, as the trailer and shipping container segments experience reduced demand. This news follows celebrations just six months ago when Governor Tate Reeves visited the facility to applaud the state’s low unemployment rate, and the company had reached its hiring goal of 500 employees.
Hiring: Leonardo Defense
International defense and security firm Leonardo has established its eighth site in the UK, unveiling a high-tech science and engineering facility in the Newcastle Helix innovation cluster. Focused on research, development, and prototyping of next-gen sensing, security, and vertical lift products, the site aims to recruit regional talent, bolstering innovation and collaboration while upskilling employees in digital engineering. Leonardo’s proactive hiring and development initiatives have also attracted praise from industry and government leaders, who highlight the positive impact of the company’s investment in the region. The facility will initially employ at least 200 staff, with plans for further growth and early career opportunities, aligning with the company’s role in the Global Combat Air Programme. Leonardo Defense is also set to onboard 300 more apprentices, industrial placements, and participants in its graduate scheme, increasing the total number of young talents engaged in early career programs to 900 in 2023.
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Opportunity to Watch
The Pentagon has reported more than 200 new sightings of UFOs and unidentified anomalous phenomena in an eight-month period, with 274 new reports between August 2022 and April 2023. These reports, primarily from military and airline personnel, were analyzed by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which identified most as mundane objects like balloons but classified 2%-4% as unidentifiable.
While none posed direct threats, concerns remain regarding potential foreign activity. Public interest has grown since the White House established a dedicated UFO investigation office, and the Pentagon is launching two new portals for reporting sightings, one for the public and one for government personnel.
