Engineers and Apprentices Can Join Boeing's PAC-3 Seeker Ramp in Huntsville

Boeing has been awarded an undefinitized contract action worth approximately $14.7 billion by Lockheed Martin to scale production of the seekers that guide PAC-3 MSE interceptors, and the work is centred on its PAC-3 seeker factory in Huntsville, Alabama. The award lets Boeing triple PAC-3 MSE seeker production, with hundreds of direct and indirect jobs expected to be created in the Huntsville area. This guide is written for electrical and test engineers, radar and signal processing specialists, assemblers, solderers and quality inspectors in North Alabama. For Metaintro readers, the practical part is what Boeing is advertising on its own careers site, such as a PAC-3 seeker testing posting, what those roles pay, who is eligible, and the paid apprenticeship route for people who want to start on the factory floor.

What Did Boeing Win on October 5?

The award was made public from Huntsville on Oct. 5, 2026. It is an undefinitized contract action from Lockheed Martin, the PAC-3 MSE prime contractor, to scale production and deliver PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement seekers.

The contract sits under an earlier seven-year framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War. That framework was made public on April 1, 2026, to triple production of PAC-3 seekers, and under it Boeing, the department and Lockheed Martin agreed to begin the production ramp-up immediately and negotiate toward a multiyear contract award later this year.

Boeing's seekers provide active data to the PAC-3 missile which enables it to acquire, intercept and destroy threats using hit-to-kill technology. Boeing-built seekers let the most advanced Patriot interceptors identify, track and engage threats ranging from hostile aircraft to hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles. Boeing is the original engineering manufacturer of the seeker on the PAC-3 program.

Global demand for PAC-3 MSE is at record levels, increasing the need for production capacity across its component supply chain. The interceptor has been used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to protect strategically important locations, including Kyiv.

How Many Jobs Will the Seeker Contract Create?

There is no exact figure. Boeing expects hundreds of direct and indirect jobs to be created in the Huntsville, Alabama, area as a result of the contract, and it does not say how many are direct Boeing roles. Treat any precise headcount you see elsewhere with care, since the company has not printed one.

Hiring is not starting from zero. Production ramp-up and hiring to support it began earlier this year following the framework agreement announcement, which means some of the recruiting is already under way. The April framework allows Boeing to rapidly grow its highly skilled workforce, creating high-paying, specialized jobs, according to Boeing.

The factory has also been growing. By April 2026, Boeing had invested more than $200 million since 2024 to expand PAC-3 seeker production capacity in Huntsville, including a 35,000-square-foot facility expansion. Boeing Precision Engagement Systems increased deliveries by over 30% in 2025, said Bob Ciesla, its vice president.

Boeing has also strengthened supplier relationships, modernized facilities and improved processes and controls to increase first-time quality. The framework also opens the way for additional, cash-neutral Boeing investments throughout the production value stream, with priority on partnerships with domestic suppliers.

"This long-term program is rapidly growing in Huntsville due to design updates, production growth, and Boeing facilities consolidations," according to the Boeing test engineer posting.

Which Boeing Roles in Huntsville Are Open Now?

Here are four Huntsville engineering postings on Boeing's careers site, three that name PAC-3 and one general electrical test role, with their basic qualifications.

• Associate Electrical Test Engineer. Posted Sep. 24, 2026, this is a Huntsville electrical test role at Boeing Defense, Space and Security, and the posting does not name PAC-3. It sits on the Electrical Engineering Capability Team and supports automated test equipment design, engineering documentation, and hardware fabrication, integration, and validation testing. It asks for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering (with a focus in Electrical, Mechanical or Aeronautical), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement, plus 1+ years of related experience. Applicants also need experience setting up equipment and performing tests on various products and assemblies using manual, semi-automatic, or automated test devices, plus hands-on lab experience with power electronics testing or analog electronics testing or test methodology, and the ability to travel domestically at least 10% of the time.
• Experienced Radar Seeker System Engineer. This role is at the Boeing Jetplex facility in Huntsville and supports new development work on the PAC-3 RF seeker, including algorithms for radar signal processing techniques such as Kalman filtering. The basic qualification is a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement, and the preferred list includes 3 years of experience in Digital Signal Processing/Radar/Digital Communications algorithms and techniques and MATLAB.
• Senior Systems Engineer, Seeker Testing. Posted Oct. 01, 2026, this engineer defines how the seeker is tested in the factory chambers. It asks for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement, typically 9 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience or non-US equivalent qualifications, and 3+ years of experience in Systems Engineering relating to test requirement and interface definition. The other basic qualifications are a strong understanding of systems engineering principles, methodologies, and tools (e.g., Model-Based Systems Engineering), proficiency in systems integration and testing processes, excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and strategically, strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders, and familiarity with production processes, capacity expansion, and development programs in the aerospace and defense industry.
• Lead, Senior or Expert Test and Evaluation Engineer. This is the PAC-3 Test Technical Lead role, and it asks for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement, plus 8 or more years of experience in analysis of requirements, architecture design and product design, 8 or more years of experience leading a multi-skilled (electrical, mechanical, project, systems, etc.) engineering teams, and 8 or more years of experience executing Tests to verify and validate requirements. The other basic qualifications are experience in missile system development and weapon system integration, experience using technical and program management techniques to manage large-scale technical development efforts, and experience mentoring junior engineers. Typical experience is 9 or more years' related work experience at Lead level, 14 or more at Senior and 20 or more at Expert, or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience.

Each of these four roles is listed as 1st shift, on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings, and the seeker testing role is expected to be 100% onsite. Boeing is a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing when its criteria are met.

What Do These Huntsville Engineering Jobs Pay?

Pay on each posting is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations, a line printed on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings.

• The general Associate Electrical Test Engineer role pays $91,800 to $124,200.
• The Experienced Radar Seeker System Engineer role pays $112,200 - $151,800.
• The Senior Systems Engineer for seeker testing pays $136,850 - $185,150.
• The test and evaluation role pays $154,700 - $209,300 at Senior level and $188,700 - $255,300 at Expert level, and the same posting also lists a separate Lead-level pay band.

Benefits on the postings generally include health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. Benefits also include a company match to your 401(k) and a tuition assistance program that pays your institution directly. Nationally, the median annual wage for electrical engineers was $120,630 in May 2025, and how location and industry shift that number is discussed in Electrical Engineer Salary and How to Earn More.

Relocation varies by role. The associate test role offers relocation based on candidate eligibility, while for the seeker testing role relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit, and candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.

Do You Need a Security Clearance or US Citizenship?

For these four roles, yes on citizenship, as stated on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings, and the clearance rule depends on the role. The seeker testing engineer needs an active U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required), and a clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active. The test and evaluation lead role carries the same active Secret clearance requirement.

Two roles require only the ability to obtain a clearance. The associate test engineer needs the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship, and an interim or final U.S. Secret clearance post-start is required, although it lists an active Secret or higher security clearance as a preferred qualification. The radar seeker engineer role has the same ability-to-obtain rule, with an interim and/or final U.S. secret clearance required post start.

Export control rules also apply. Each role must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, which means a U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required, and the same line appears on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings. That group includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, and Boeing will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status, as stated on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings.

Successful candidates must also satisfy the Company's Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process, a requirement printed on the radar seeker, associate test, seeker testing and test lead postings.

Can You Get Into the Seeker Factory Without a Degree?

Often yes, since a degree is not required to apply for most of Boeing's technical apprenticeship programs. Boeing and Drake State Community and Technical College unveiled a Technical Apprenticeship Program on June 17, 2026, based on the Drake State campus. It offers a paycheck from day one and a clear route to employment with Boeing's PAC-3 Seeker program and Electronic Center of Excellence.

Here is how the program works.

• Three pathways. Apprentices choose Assembly Mechanics, Solder, or Quality.
• Paid from the start. Participants are Boeing employees from the start, and while completing the four to 12-week program, depending on the selected pathway, they receive Boeing pay and benefits.
• Taught on the job. Managers and mentors serve as instructors, and Boeing's Lance Fulks said it is based on its St. Louis apprenticeship program.
• A path to a full-time job. Graduates who complete the apprenticeship will have the opportunity to convert to a full-time position, and a 90-day probationary period follows completion of the program.
• Open to US applicants. The Boeing Technical Apprenticeship Program is open to applicants in the United States, and Boeing selects apprentices on a range of criteria.

Completing the program earns an industry-recognized credential from Boeing and a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship credential. Boeing selects apprentices on traits such as technical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot complex scenarios, problem-solving and teamwork. Boeing manages applications directly and pointed applicants to its BTAP page when the program launched in June. Graduates leave with industry-recognized certifications, the kind of credential that Skills for Your Manufacturing Resume says employers look for.

"As demand grows for the PAC-3 interceptor, we are taking deliberate steps to build the skilled talent pipeline needed to support PAC-3 seeker production and production of vital hardware for other Boeing systems," Boeing Huntsville site executive Pierce Lehr said in June, according to the Drake State announcement.

How Does the Seeker Deal Fit Lockheed Martin's Wider PAC-3 Ramp?

On July 29, 2026, Lockheed Martin received a seven-year undefinitized contract action modification for up to $53.86 billion for PAC-3 MSE interceptors, bringing its total multiyear contract value to $58.62 billion. Boeing's seeker award is part of that $53.86 billion contract awarded to Lockheed Martin in July, according to the Huntsville Business Journal.

Lockheed Martin aims to triple PAC-3 MSE capacity by the end of 2030. Lockheed Martin's July award supports a 50% increase in jobs, from 1,200 to approximately 1,850, just in Camden, Arkansas, where final production of the interceptors takes place.

Other suppliers are scaling too. By September 8, L3Harris Technologies had received a seven-year, $4.7 billion undefinitized contract from Lockheed Martin covering the advanced two-pulse solid rocket motor, Lethality Enhancer and Attitude Control Motors, and it began construction in June on two PAC-3 MSE facilities in Camden, both scheduled to open in 2027. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will lead expansion of component production, including motor cases, seeker housings and midsections. That means PAC-3 work sits with several employers, in Arkansas as well as Alabama.

What Is Still Unsettled About the Contract?

Two caveats are worth knowing. First, the Boeing award is an undefinitized contract action worth approximately $14.7 billion, and Boeing gives the value only as an approximate figure.

Second, the seven-year component framework agreements the Department of War signed with General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin guarantee minimum annual quantities, although funding remains subject to annual congressional appropriations. Those minimum quantities give manufacturers and lower-tier suppliers greater visibility for investment planning.

Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, said the company is positioned to deliver seekers at unprecedented levels in the near-term and is committed to building on that momentum.

What This Means for Job Seekers, and What Should You Do Next?

Our take is that this is a real and already active hiring push, but it is narrower than the headline number suggests. The approximately $14.7 billion figure is contract value, not a jobs total, and Boeing expects hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. The open roles we found ask for US person status and either an active Secret clearance or the ability to obtain one, so these four engineering roles are for US citizens who can hold a Secret clearance.

Here is what we would do:

• Apply before the closing dates. The general associate test role accepts applications until Oct. 09, 2026, the radar seeker role until Oct. 13, 2026, and the seeker testing role until Oct. 16, 2026.
• Check the clearance line first. Two roles require only the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance, with an interim or final Secret clearance required post-start, on the associate test and radar seeker postings, although the associate role lists an active Secret or higher clearance as preferred.
• Match the posting line by line. Boeing's basic qualifications are specific, such as hands-on lab experience with power electronics testing or analog electronics testing, so mirror that wording with real examples on your resume.
• Consider the apprenticeship for factory work. The Assembly Mechanics, Solder and Quality pathways pay while you train, and Boeing manages applications directly and pointed applicants to its BTAP page when the program launched in June.
• Look at the wider supply chain. If Huntsville does not suit you, Lockheed Martin's July award supports a 50% increase in jobs in Camden, Arkansas, from 1,200 to approximately 1,850.

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People Also Asked

Q: How many jobs will Boeing's PAC-3 seeker contract create in Huntsville?

A: Boeing has not given an exact number, and it expects hundreds of direct and indirect jobs to be created in the Huntsville, Alabama, area as a result of the contract.

Q: Do Boeing PAC-3 jobs in Huntsville require a security clearance?

A: Some need an active U.S. Secret Security Clearance, while others need only the ability to obtain one, with an interim and/or final Secret clearance post-start, and both require US citizenship.

Q: Can I work on PAC-3 seekers at Boeing without a degree?

A: Often yes. The Boeing and Drake State apprenticeship offers paid Assembly Mechanics, Solder and Quality pathways lasting four to 12 weeks and a route to employment with Boeing's PAC-3 Seeker program, and a degree is not required for most technical apprenticeship programs.

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