Question 1

How long does the Raytheon background check take?

Accepted Answer

Raytheon typically uses a DoD-adjudicated investigation plus a commercial screener for background screening. Most reports finish in 3–7 business days once you consent, though results involving multi-county criminal history, education verification, or federal court checks can take 2–3 weeks. If your report stalls past a week, contact the recruiter — pending checks are usually a paperwork issue, not a decline.

Question 2

Does Raytheon run a background check on every hire?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Raytheon runs a background check on every candidate who receives a conditional offer. You'll sign a disclosure and authorization form (required under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act) before it starts. A record does not automatically disqualify you — federal law requires individualized review of the offense, how long ago it happened, and its relevance to the job.

Question 3

Does Raytheon hire people with felonies?

Accepted Answer

Raytheon does hire people with felony records, but outcomes depend on the role, how recent the conviction is, and whether the offense relates to the job. Non-violent, older convictions clear far more often than recent violent or theft-related offenses. Applying is the right move — the individualized review is where your story matters most.

Question 4

What disqualifies you from working at Raytheon?

Accepted Answer

The most common automatic disqualifiers are: falsifying your application, failing the drug screen for safety-sensitive roles, or a conviction that legally bars the specific role (e.g. theft-related offenses for cash-handling positions, DUIs for driving roles). Being honest on the disclosure form is more important than the record itself — undisclosed records get rescinded offers even when the record alone would not have.

Question 5

Should I disclose my record before Raytheon runs the check?

Accepted Answer

Yes — but not on the initial application. Wait for the conditional offer, then proactively bring it up before the background check runs. A one-paragraph explanation (what happened, what changed, what you've done since) framed to your recruiter almost always beats letting the report speak first.

Question 6

Can I appeal a rejection from Raytheon after a background check?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the FCRA, Raytheon must send you a "pre-adverse action" letter with a copy of the report and a window (usually 5 business days) to dispute inaccuracies. If the record is correct, you can still write a rebuttal explaining rehabilitation — some hires are recovered at this stage, especially for older or expunged records the screener missed.

Question 7

Can you get a security clearance with a felony?

Accepted Answer

It's harder but not automatic disqualification. The federal Bond Amendment bars anyone sentenced to more than one year in prison from most clearances, but there are waivers. Non-violent felonies more than 7–10 years old, with clean history since, are the most likely to clear. Drug convictions within the last 12 months are the most common recent disqualifier.

Question 8

Are there Raytheon roles that don't need a clearance?

Accepted Answer

Yes — facilities, food service, some IT support, and many admin roles. These use a standard commercial background check (Sterling or First Advantage), not the SF-86 process. If a clearance is out of reach, filter openings on the RTX careers site for 'None' under clearance level.

Question 9

Does Raytheon check credit history?

Accepted Answer

For cleared roles, yes — financial stability is one of the 13 clearance adjudicative guidelines. Bankruptcies and unpaid tax debt are the most common credit issues that trigger deeper review. Non-cleared roles do not typically pull credit unless the job handles company finances.

Question 10

How long does the SF-86 clearance investigation take?

Accepted Answer

Secret clearances average 3–5 months; Top Secret averages 6–12 months. Raytheon will often start you in a non-cleared role during the investigation if the position allows.

Raytheon (RTX) hiring FAQ

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