Engineering Jobs in Arlington, TX
Arlington is a true manufacturing engineering town: General Motors' Arlington Assembly plant builds the company's full-size SUVs - the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade - and GM committed roughly $500 million to retool the plant, which employs thousands and drives constant demand for manufacturing, industrial, quality, and mechanical engineers. Around that plant sits a dense supplier and logistics base, plus the University of Texas at Arlington's large College of Engineering, making the city a genuine hub for hands-on engineering careers. This hub pulls together every LocalJobPage guide in the field so you can find a role, see who is hiring, and apply.
Why Engineering Hiring Is Strong in Arlington
Engineering is one of Arlington's most durable technical fields because the city is built around large-scale manufacturing and infrastructure. GM's Arlington Assembly plant is the economic anchor, producing high-margin full-size SUVs and requiring manufacturing, industrial, quality, and mechanical engineers to run and continuously improve its lines - and its multi-hundred-million-dollar retooling investments keep engineering demand high. A wide network of automotive suppliers and industrial firms along the Great Southwest Industrial District and I-20 corridor adds more manufacturing and project engineering roles. The University of Texas at Arlington runs one of the largest engineering colleges in North Texas, feeding local talent and research, while the City of Arlington and regional infrastructure projects drive demand for civil and environmental engineers. Being in the heart of DFW also puts aerospace employers like nearby Lockheed Martin and Bell within reach.
Top Engineering Employers in Arlington
These are the largest and most active employers of engineers in and around Arlington. Each link runs a live search combining the employer with a common role so you land on relevant openings:
- General Motors (Arlington Assembly) - The city's manufacturing anchor; hires manufacturing, industrial, quality, and mechanical engineers.
- Lockheed Martin - Major Fort Worth defense employer near Arlington; systems, electrical, and mechanical engineers.
- Bell (Textron) - Fort Worth aerospace manufacturer near Arlington; design, manufacturing, and systems engineers.
- University of Texas at Arlington - Major engineering research university; research, project, and facilities engineering roles.
- City of Arlington - Municipal government; civil, environmental, and traffic engineers for public works and infrastructure.
- Siemens - Industrial technology employer with DFW-area operations; electrical, automation, and manufacturing engineers.
- Poly-America - Large Grand Prairie plastics manufacturer near Arlington; manufacturing, industrial, and quality engineers.
Engineering Career Paths in Arlington
The 10 guides in this hub group into four functional buckets, so you can start where your discipline and timeline fit:
- Manufacturing and industrial: Manufacturing Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Quality Engineer.
- Core disciplines: Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Environmental Engineer.
- Systems and project roles: Systems Engineer, Project Engineer.
- Industry overview: Engineering.
How to Start an Engineering Career in Arlington
Engineering careers in Arlington typically start with a degree, and the city's own university is one of the largest producers of engineers in the region:
- University of Texas at Arlington College of Engineering - offers ABET-accredited bachelor's and graduate degrees in mechanical, electrical, civil, industrial, aerospace, and environmental engineering, the primary local pipeline into these roles.
- Tarrant County College - engineering transfer programs and technical courses at low in-county tuition, a common first step before transferring to a four-year engineering program.
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam - the first step toward becoming a licensed Professional Engineer, typically taken near graduation.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license - issued in Texas by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, and legally required to sign off on public engineering work, especially in civil and environmental fields.
- Discipline certifications - Six Sigma and lean manufacturing credentials for quality and industrial roles, and specialized software skills (CAD, PLC, SolidWorks) that manufacturing employers expect.
Licensing depends on the role: many manufacturing and industrial engineering jobs do not require a license, but a Texas PE license is legally required to approve public engineering work and to offer engineering services to the public, which matters most for civil and environmental engineers.
Engineering Salaries in Arlington
Pay varies by discipline, license, and experience. These are local estimate tiers to help you plan:
- Entry level (new-grad manufacturing, quality, civil, or mechanical engineers): roughly $65,000 - $80,000 per year.
- Mid level (industrial, electrical, environmental, project engineers with a few years' experience): roughly $85,000 - $110,000 per year.
- Senior level (senior/lead engineers, systems engineers, licensed PEs): roughly $115,000 - $150,000+ per year.
These figures are estimates that vary by employer, discipline, and license status. Larger employers like General Motors, Lockheed Martin, and Bell typically add benefits such as health insurance, retirement matching, bonuses, and relocation or tuition assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to work as an engineer in Arlington?
It depends on the role. Many engineers - especially in manufacturing, industrial, and quality at plants like GM's Arlington Assembly - work under the industry exemption and do not need a license. However, a Texas Professional Engineer (PE) license, issued by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, is legally required to sign off on public engineering work and to offer engineering services to the public, which most affects civil and environmental engineers.
Which employer hires the most engineers in Arlington?
General Motors' Arlington Assembly plant is the city's manufacturing anchor, building full-size SUVs and hiring manufacturing, industrial, quality, and mechanical engineers, especially during its major retooling investments. Nearby Lockheed Martin and Bell in Fort Worth, the City of Arlington, and UT Arlington are also significant employers of engineers.
How much do engineering jobs pay in Arlington?
New-grad engineers generally start around $65,000 to $80,000 per year, mid-level engineers with a few years of experience land in the $85,000 to $110,000 range, and senior engineers, systems engineers, and licensed PEs commonly earn $115,000 to over $150,000. Pay varies by discipline, with a PE license and specialized skills raising earnings.
What is the fastest way into an engineering career in Arlington?
The standard path is an ABET-accredited engineering degree, and starting at Tarrant County College before transferring to UT Arlington's College of Engineering is a cost-effective route. Internships and co-ops at local manufacturers like GM during school are the single most effective way to land a full-time engineering role after graduation.
What is the difference between a manufacturing engineer and an industrial engineer?
A manufacturing engineer focuses on the production process itself - designing, setting up, and improving the equipment, tooling, and assembly lines that build a product. An industrial engineer takes a broader view, optimizing entire systems of people, machines, and workflow to improve efficiency, quality, and cost. The roles overlap heavily at plants like GM's Arlington Assembly, and both are in steady demand there.
Ready to get started? Browse all current engineering job openings in Arlington, TX on LocalJobPage.