Deputy Chief Engineer/Project Lead

Collins Aerospace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Generous 401(k) plan with matches

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a deputy chief engineer for a Secure Subsystems program in El Segundo. You will drive upgrades on a legacy device, work toward crypto certification, and lead cross-functional teams across engineering, PMO and customer interfaces.

The role emphasizes system planning, risk analysis, and bid/proposal support. Applicants should have a STEM degree with extensive experience in cryptographic hardware and network encryption, plus active clearance expectations.

Qualifications

• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production.
• Experience leading $50-100 million programs as chief engineer/project lead through waterfall/agile methodologies for at least 2 years.
• Familiarity with Scaled Agile Framework and strong communication skills.
• Experience with Cryptographic Hardware architecture/design, Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead as the deputy chief engineer for a team upgrading a legacy device.
• Collaborate with the lead chief engineer, engineering leads, PMO and customer to achieve crypto certification.
• Coordinate with CAM and Finance/Scheduler for internal BCRs and IMS planning.
• Act as product owner/scrum master and run CCBs for defects.
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification/validation, cost and risk analyses.
• Contribute to bid and proposal efforts.
• Decompose system requirements, update CDRLs and conduct testing on crypto systems.

Skills

Systems development

Program leadership

DOORS

CAMEO

Rust

Python

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

Rust

Python

Job description

Date Posted

2026-10-08

Country

United States of America

Location

US-CA-EL SEGUNDO-E04 ~ 2006 E El Segundo Blvd ~ BLDG E04

Position Role Type

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 on day 1

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.

The Secure Subsystems Department is responsible for the design, test, and certification of cross-domain technologies and cryptographic products that equip our warfighters to thrive in today’s multi-domain battlespace. Our department collaborates with portfolio teams across the organization to help capture new business and create security-hardened solutions that address our customers’ demanding needs.

What You Will Do

• Lead as the deputy chief engineer for a team that is going through several upgrades on a legacy device
• Work closely with the lead chief engineer, engineering leads, PMO and customer to get to the crypto certification
• Cost Accounting Manager (CAM) and work with Finance/Scheduler for internal BCRs, IMS planning
• Product owner/scrum master and running CCBs for defects
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total system solutions.
• Perform bid and proposal efforts
• Work system requirements decomposition, CDRL updates and black box or white box testing on Software and hardware integrated crypto systems

Qualifications You Must Have

• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production.
• Experience with leading $50-100 million programs as a chief engineer/project lead through waterfall/agile methodologies for a minimum of 2 years

Qualifications We Prefer

• Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework
• Exceptionally strong communication skills, experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership
• Experienced with Cryptographic Hardwarearchitecture/design,Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies
• Experience with tools such as DOORS, CAMEO or similar, Software Languages such as Rust and Python.
• Experience with Hardware and Software Integration, Validation & Verification Testing, and Qualification Testing
• Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience

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 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
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

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.

Employee Referral Eligible

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 118,300 USD - 224,900 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.