Associate Director , Advanced System Tools - Program Chief (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 157,200 - 298,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement program

Life insurance and disability coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA, is seeking a Program Chief (Associate Director) to lead the proposal, architecture, design, and integration of next‑gen software and system development kits, notably Virtual System Test Rigs. You will guide engineering teams and coordinate certification activities for safety‑critical tooling.

The role requires a STEM degree with extensive experience, U.S. citizenship, and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Onsite work in Cedar Rapids with travel <10% is expected.

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree with 12+ years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with 10+ years.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility.
• Experience with avionics and test system architecture.
• Experience leading technical projects with customer interaction and briefing executive leadership.
• Experience with leading DO-178B/C DAL A certification activities for software development.
• Experience interfacing with program management teams and customers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for assigned products, programs, or customer portfolios.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams to develop, integrate, and deliver innovative solutions.
• Drive program execution by managing technical plans, schedules, budgets, risks, and performance.
• Lead technical contributions to proposals, statements of work, and customer deliverables.
• Oversee product design, development, integration, verification, validation, and certification activities.
• Resolve complex technical challenges and coordinate resources to ensure successful program execution.
• Partner with customers, suppliers, and program leadership to align technical solutions with business objectives.
• Willingness to travel (domestic and international <10%).

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

DO-330 Tool Certification

Job description

Become part of the growing Collins Aerospace Advanced System Tools! This position is for a highly experienced and motivated Program Chief (Associate Director) that will be involved in the proposal, architecture, design, implementation, verification, and integration of a wide variety of next generation software and system development kits, specifically Virtual System Test Rigs. As an engineering lead in this organization, you will be employing best practice design methodologies and utilizing emerging technologies to pioneer a new product line from the ground up. The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of software development practices, system testing, military/commercial certification, and experience leading execution teams. This is an onsite position based in Cedar Rapids, IA.

What You Will Do

• Serve as the technical authority for assigned products, programs, or customer portfolios, providing engineering leadership and technical direction.
• Lead cross‑functional engineering teams to develop, integrate, and deliver innovative, high‑quality solutions.
• Drive program execution by managing technical plans, schedules, budgets, risks, and overall engineering performance.
• Lead technical contributions to proposals, business plans, statements of work, and customer deliverables.
• Oversee product design, development, integration, verification, validation, and certification activities.
• Resolve complex technical challenges and coordinate resources to ensure successful program execution.
• Partner with customers, suppliers, and program leadership to align technical solutions with business objectives and contractual commitments.
• Willingness to travel (domestic and international <10%).

What You Will Learn

• Launching, maturing, and scaling a new product line with broad organizational dependencies.
• Defining and communicating a compelling value proposition for internal and external stakeholders.
• Executing tooling programs that support safety‑critical Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) certification and qualified toolchains.
• Negotiating product development and program models across commercial and military domains.
• Understanding how tooling investments drive continuous value, quality improvement, and cost/schedule efficiencies across engineering use cases.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 12 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 10 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
• Experience with avionics and test system architecture.
• Experience leading technical projects including customer interaction and briefing executive leadership.
• Experience with leading DO-178B/C DAL A certification activities for software development.
• Experience with interfacing with the wide spectrum of individual contributors to program management and customers.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Virtual/Host Test Rig Development.
• Experience with DO-330 Tool Certification.
• Experience with military & commercial program procurement, execution, and support (Life Cycle Management).
• Experience with design and development of Flight Management Systems, Flight Displays, Comm/Nav/Surveillance and/or Networking Software (System of Systems).

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student Loan Repayment Program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning.
• Adoption Assistance Autism Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions.
• Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program.
• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits.
• Bright Horizons, child and elder care services.
• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program.
• And more!

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management.

Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time.

At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on‑site, hybrid or remote.

If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

The salary range for this role is 157,200 USD - 298,800 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective‑bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short‑term and/or long‑term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective‑bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry‑leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.