Associate Director, Program Management - Connected Battlespace Emerging Capabilities (CBEC) - Trusted AI & Autonomy CTA Lead (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 299,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous vacation

401(k) with matching

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA seeks an Associate Director, Program Management to lead AI/ML and autonomous system programs for DoD customers. You will manage IRAD portfolios, coordinate across AI, data, and engineering teams, and guide strategy and execution of technology maturation efforts onsite in Cedar Rapids.

The role requires extensive program management experience, DoD program familiarity, and the ability to secure a U.S. government security clearance. Travel up to 25% is expected.

Qualifications

• University degree with 12+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required for security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define, prioritize, and steward an IRAD portfolio for AI, ML, and autonomous system capabilities with clear transition paths.
• Lead Pursuit, Order, Capture efforts for AI and autonomy-related pursuits, including IP planning and solution definition.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders across AI, data engineering, modeling, simulation, autonomy behaviors, certification, and mission application teams.
• Provide programmatic guidance for the development and maturation of AI/ML models that outperform traditional approaches.
• Collaborate with systems engineers and autonomy architects to plan learning-enabled components in broader autonomous systems.
• Support ML operations and digital engineering processes to accelerate technology development.
• Promote evaluation of emerging AI techniques like foundation models and RL in mission contexts.
• Identify ecosystem partnerships to accelerate capability maturation and reduce risk.
• Support DoD and other agencies through technology development roadmaps and customer alignment.
• Lead and manage multiple external programs and internal technology efforts.
• Perform LRP and AOP related activities for TAI&A CTA portfolio.
• Travel up to 25% of the time.

Skills

Program management

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

EVMS/R&O/RLPM

Customer relationships

Leadership

Education

University degree

Advanced degree

Job description

Job Details

Date Posted: 2026-09-17. Country: United States of America. Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-166 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 166. Position: Associate Director, Program Management (PM). Role Type: Onsite. Status: Active.

Security Clearance

Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. Security Clearance Type: Secret - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

Position

Emerging Capabilities portfolio in the Connected Battlespace Emerging Capabilities (CBEC) business has an immediate need for an Associate Director, Program Management (PM) to support our growing Trusted Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy (TAI&A) portfolio. This individually-contributing PM will lead research & development programs, both internally and externally funded developing and incubating emerging TAI&A technologies for Department of Defense (DoD) customers, Consortiums, and the strategic business units (SBU) within Collins Aerospace. This PM with lead the strategic development and execution for the TAI&A critical technology area (CTA), ensuring alignment with enterprise technology priorities, long‑range business objectives, and future program needs. In addition, this PM will also lead and organize pursuit and proposal efforts to capture new programs within the science and technology (S&T) community, to include the DoD and other agencies. The PM will interface with a cross-functional team of other PMs, business development, strategy, and engineering personnel to create and maintain technology development roadmaps as well as coordinate the transition of new technologies and capabilities to other SBUs once mature. This role will fuel future the future at Collins Aerospace and drive business growth through the development and maturation of state-of-the-art cutting edge technologies. This is an onsite in Cedar Rapids, IA.

What You Will Do

• Define, prioritize, and steward an IRAD portfolio that matures differentiated AI, machine learning (ML), and autonomous system capabilities, with clear transition paths into internal programs and external customer applications
• Lead and be accountable for Pursuit, Order, Capture efforts for AI and autonomy‑related pursuits, including strategic shaping, intellectual property planning, solution definition, and alignment to customer requirements both internal and external
• Coordinate cross‑functional stakeholders across AI, data engineering, modeling and simulation, autonomy behaviors, certification, and mission application teams to ensure an integrated, spiral‑development‑driven roadmap
• Provide programmatic guidance for the development and maturation of AI/ML models that outperform rule‑based state‑of‑the‑art approaches through advanced learning techniques (e.g., supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning, multimodal fusion)
• Collaborate closely with systems engineers and autonomy architects to plan and integrate learning‑enabled components into broader autonomous system behaviors and decision‑making architectures
• Support development and adoption of scalable ML operations and digital engineering processes including; experimentation, model/version management, assurance workflows, and reproducibility all to accelerate advanced technology development
• Promote the evaluation and integration of emerging AI techniques such as foundation models, model‑based reinforcement learning (RL), self‑supervision, uncertainty‑aware decision making, and hybrid symbolic‑ML approaches when they deliver clear mission advantage
• Identify and cultivate ecosystem partnerships including; universities, research labs, and industry collaborators to accelerate capability maturation, enhance innovation, and reduce technical and programmatic risk
• Support the Mission Systems AI and data strategy by aligning tools, infrastructure, data pipelines, as well as model development needs with future customer mission requirements and autonomy roadmaps
• Lead and manage multiple external program efforts & internally funded technology efforts simultaneously
• Accountable for the initial completion and annual updates of key organizational activities such as Strategic Segment Workshops (i.e. OVR) with the strategy team and roadmapping activities with the roadmap subject matter expert(s) across the Collins SBUs (as applicable)
• Responsible for meeting contractual commitments including financial, technical, and schedule performance of assigned programs (CuFE) and projects (CFE)
• Actively involved with Long Range Planning (LRP) and Annual Operating Plan (AOP) processes for TAI&A CTA portfolio
• Perform regular program EACs, PMRs and IRAD reviews with an ability to brief senior and executive leadership
• Travel up to 25% of the time

Qualifications

• Typically requires a University Degree 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
• Demonstrated project and/or program management experience
• Execution experience and ability to drive program team to achieve results
• Experience with EVMS program management, R&O management, and RLPM

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build strong customer relationships and effectively communicate, collaborate, and influence throughout program and project execution
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor complex information to different audiences and effectively engage senior and executive leadership
• Proven team-building and leadership skills, with the ability to establish a clear vision, align cross-functional teams, and drive execution across the Program Management Team (PMT)
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and influence across organizational boundaries, functions, and technical disciplines
• Experience identifying, shaping, pursuing, and capturing customer-funded development opportunities that align with business and technology strategies, including opportunities supported directly by government customers or through industry partners
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional decision-making and apply sound judgment and critical thinking in complex environments where information may be incomplete or evolving
• Experience working within the U.S. military acquisition environment, including familiarity with FAR Part 12 commercial acquisitions
• Experience leveraging capabilities, technologies, and investments across Collins Aerospace and/or RTX organizations to accelerate technology maturation and program execution
• Demonstrated program or project management experience spanning customer-facing programs, technology development, and/or product line management

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!

Employment Information

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. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. 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.

Equality & Inclusion

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.

About Us

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.