MCKINNEY, Texas, (Courtesy: Raytheon Intelligence & Space) – Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business, today announced the launch of a new Registered Apprenticeship program with the U.S. Department of Labor and Collin College in McKinney, Texas. Simultaneously, Raytheon Intelligence & Space is also expanding a three-year manufacturing Apprenticeship Program in Forest, Mississippi, with the Department of Labor and East Central Community College. RI&S’s Forest location launched an Apprenticeship Program in January 2022, with 18 internal assembly candidates graduating from the Nida Corporation electronics classroom training component in June 2022. They are now going through on-the-job training, which will conclude in 2025.

The paid manufacturing Apprenticeship Program will enable students enrolled at Collin College to earn touch labor credentials while gaining on-the-job work experience and mentorship. RI&S anticipates that over 100 individuals will be enrolled in the program within the first five years.

“Manufacturing is at the heart of what we do,” said Jeff Place, vice president of Operations & Supply Chain at Raytheon Intelligence & Space. “This Apprenticeship Program will allow students to create some of the most advanced technology in the world – providing unmatched capabilities to our men and women in uniform – and do it while continuing to pursue their education.”

Set to launch in 2023, the program is the first of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth region to offer students work-based training programs for the following touch labor roles:

• Assembly Technician: Apprentices will learn how to assemble or modify electro-optical and electro-mechanical equipment or devices and will work with a team of operators, technicians and engineers to support factory optimization. Individuals will perform various tasks in support of a manual and partially automated assembly production environment.
• Precision Assembler: Individuals will be assigned to work with a team of operators, technicians, and engineers responsible for the assembly of various mechanical assemblies and microelectronic devices. In addition to the manual assembly, these individuals will be required to cross train on automated equipment and computers that will be essential in their work cells.
• Electronics Tester: Apprentices will perform a wide variety of technical tasks in support of processes, engineering, quality control, calibration, laboratories, production/test environment, field operations, line maintenance and/or chemical handling. They will test, troubleshoot, repair, maintain and install a wide variety of electronic, electromechanical, mechanical, computer, laboratory, and scientific systems and/or equipment.

“The launch of a Registered Apprenticeship by Raytheon Intelligence & Space will empower their ability and continue to develop a world class workforce and reap its benefits,” said the U.S. Department of Labor’s Southwest Regional Apprenticeship Director Dudley Light. “Registered Apprenticeships are proven model for preparing people for good-paying jobs and an opportunity for a successful career with leading employers around the nation.”

This program will help address a manufacturing skills gap in Texas. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, more than 800,000 touch labor jobs were unfilled in July 2021. By developing a new pipeline of manufacturing talent in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Apprenticeship Program will address a local skills gap and help continue to position North Texas as a manufacturing hub.

“Educating and training a highly skilled workforce is mission critical to support industry growth and success, and apprenticeships enhance and fortify the educational experience,” said Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College district president. “Collin College is honored to stand alongside our partners at Raytheon Intelligence & Space as part of the Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program focusing on Advanced Manufacturing Consortium. We look forward to cultivating a much-needed talent pool that become manufacturing employees.”

This investment reinforces Raytheon Intelligence & Space’s commitment to the North Texas region. Last year, the business celebrated the grand opening of its Advanced Integration and Manufacturing Center, or AIM Center, and that it had created 500 new jobs at the facility. At the same time, Raytheon Intelligence & Space announced plans to build more state-of-the-art production facilities at the company’s McKinney campus, which is set to open by 2025 and generate an additional 700 jobs.