Associate Director, Thrust Reverser Integration Lead (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 329,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) plan with match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking an Associate Director, Thrust Reverser Integration Engineering Leader for Aerostructures, onsite in Chula Vista. You will lead all technical thrust reverser activities, govern development from concept to production, and collaborate with customers to meet specifications and certification requirements.

You will drive technical program objectives, manage a multi-disciplinary engineering team, and ensure alignment with regulatory and contractual obligations while

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree with 12 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with 10 years of related experience.
• Experience managing a team of engineers.
• Front-facing customer service experience.
• Engineering principles & theories experience.
• Experience with structures design/stress.
• Project management experience.
• Experience with CI tools & methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and integrate all engineering activity for the Nacelle for the Thrust Reverser product, managing budget, schedule and tech development up to TRL5+.
• Provide guidance and coordination with internal customers and departments.
• Lead progress decision-making and direction within the team.
• Coordinate with marketing and customers for proposal activities.
• Develop standardized engineering processes, lessons learned, and reusable templates for new product introduction.
• Ensure budget availability and monitor expenditures to align with schedules.
• Represent engineering on all component issues and future directions.
• Drive alignment of technical requirements with regulatory certification.

Skills

Engineering Leadership

Team Management

Customer Collaboration

Technical Communication

Structures Design

Project Management

Continuous Improvement

Education

STEM degree

Job description

Location: US-CA-CHULA VISTA-B107 ~ 850 Lagoon Dr ~ BLDG 107, Mail Zone 1-C

Date Posted: 2026-08-07

Country: United States of America

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access certain necessary systems.

Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status: Not Required

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Collins Aerospace is looking for an Associate Director, Thrust Reverser Integration Engineering Leader for Aerostructures who provides technically informed proactive leadership as the head of all technical Thrust Reverser product related activities for future and current state applications, applying technology to differentiate and develop a path to production and certification. In essence, their job is to be the product leader providing governance to their technical activities.

In the relentless pursuit of aviation excellence, our mission is to push the boundaries of what is possible in aerostructures. We are committed to pioneering innovations that will shape the future of aviation, reduce development cycles and delivering unparalleled value to our customers. To achieve this, we need a leader who thrives in the face of challenges, someone who is not only technically proficient but also driven by the desire to make a lasting impact on the aerospace industry

This role is for those who seek to lead at the cutting edge of technology. As the Thrust Reverser Engineering Manager for Aerostructures, you will be at the forefront of projects that demand the highest levels of technical expertise, leadership, and customer collaboration. The path will present challenges, but it also offers immense rewards. You will play a pivotal role in leading product development with incorporated best practices and applying technology to differentiate and develop a path to production and certification.

What You Will Do:

• Responsible for the coordination and integration of all engineering activity for the Nacelle specifically for the Thrust Reverser product and accountable for associated engineering budget, schedule, and developing new concepts including technology enablers TRL5+, as well as the conformity of the engineering to specifications, regulatory and contractual requirements.


• Provides guidance and coordination with internal customers and other departments.


• Proactive, and not passive to their subordinate team’s decision making, direction of progress and extent of progress.


• Provides component technical coordination with marketing and potential customers for all proposal activities.


• Make best use of CORE tools and provide continuous improvement leadership in developing and using standardized component engineering processes, lessons learned, tools and templates for new product introduction, enhancing component commonality and re-use.


• Ensure that the technical team has the necessary budget to complete the project on schedule.


• Frequently makes a status of the budget to ensure that planned work accomplished is compatible with budget expenditure.


• Notifies their senior management when a significant under or overrun of the budget is anticipated.


• Operate with a knowledge of all Nacelle products related technical requirements to drive the design, development, and testing criteria in coordination with regulatory agencies to ensure Certification requirements are achieved.


• Represent engineering on all component issues and provides the focal point for all engineering requirements and future directions.


• Have a pathway to satisfy all technical requirements within budget and schedule constraints and/or provide viable options to challenge new requirements.


• Ability to effect necessary progress in all technical disciplines – in particular:




• Structural Design / Weights


• Structural Analysis / Aero/Thermo


• Technical Communication




• Ability to communicate verbally, in writing and by presentations to both technical and non-technical personnel.


• Determine, interpret and establish technical program objectives and operational requirements for the subject component based on specification and contractual obligation.


• Think ahead of current activities and eliminates obstacles to support the layout of engineering plans and implement them effectively providing predictable program performance, ensuring customer satisfaction.


• Technical Compliance Requirements - Particularly Customers and Collins’ and understands the need to plan for all current and future compliance requirements.


• Establishes, directs and maintains component technical communication with the Customer Excellence team including exchange of technical data, reports, project reviews, meetings and other information on program status and activities.


• Travel up to 25% domestically and internationally when circumstances permit.

What You Will Learn:

• This role offers more than just a position; it offers an opportunity to leave a mark on the aerospace industry. You will be part of something bigger, contributing to projects that will define the future of aviation. The road will be challenging, but the honor and recognition that comes with success will be yours.

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.


• Experience managing a team of engineers


• Front-facing customer service experience


• Engineering principles & theories experience


• Experience with structures design/stress


• Project Management experience


• Experience with Continuous Improvement (CI) tools and methodologies

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, ACE or CORE


• Experience with proposal & grant writing


• MBA

What We Offer:

Benefits:

Some of our competitive benefits package includes:

• 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 illnessinsurance, 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!

This role may be eligible for relocation.

Onsite:

Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

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.

Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will work to find a way – the right way – to achieve what others can only dream of.

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.

The salary range for this role is 172,900 USD - 328,700 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.

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.

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