Chief Engineer – Open Systems, Principal Project Lead

RTX; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Vacation time

401(k) plan with matching

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, Cedar Rapids, IA, seeks a Senior Principal Project Engineer – Chief Engineer to lead next-generation Open System Architecture product development. You will act as the technical design authority, driving cross-discipline integration, architecture decisions, and execution across engineering, program, and customer domains.

In this role you will manage engineering plans, oversee verification/validation, and coordinate content for proposals while partnering with

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership in systems, software, or multi-disciplinary engineering roles.
• Authority in setting technical direction and architecture for complex programs.
• Experience planning and executing engineering scope with WBS, estimates, schedules, and controls.
• Proven ability to manage technical risk, issue resolution, and cost/schedule targets.
• Experience leading verification, validation, and qualification for mission-critical systems.
• Collaborates with program management, customers, and suppliers in high-visibility roles.
• Experience with Agile Mission Suite Government Reference Architecture (AMS GRA).

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical design authority for OSS products, aligning with program and product-line strategy.
• Lead cross-discipline integration across systems, software, electrical, mechanical, and specialty engineering.
• Develop and manage engineering plans including scope, schedules, estimates, and controls.
• Coordinate technical content for proposals, specs, and contracts.
• Set design direction and oversee development, integration, testing, and qualification activities.
• Identify issues and drive timely resolutions to stay aligned with cost, schedule and performance targets.
• Coordinate resources and partner with functional leaders to apply the right engineering skills.
• Act as primary technical interface for program leadership, customers, and suppliers.
• Travel up to 25% as required.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Architecture definition

Cross-functional integration

Project planning & controls

Risk & opportunity management

AMS GRA experience

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, Cedar Rapids, IA, seeks a Senior Principal Project Engineer – Chief Engineer to lead next-generation Open System Architecture product development. You will act as the technical design authority, driving cross-discipline integration, architecture decisions, and execution across engineering, program, and customer domains.

In this role you will manage engineering plans, oversee verification/validation, and coordinate content for proposals while partnering with