Operations Program Manager (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous 401(k) with employer matching

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

RTX, a leading aerospace and defense company, seeks an Operations Program Manager for the CBEC portfolio in Cedar Rapids. The role blends engineering influence with producibility strategies to lower cost across design, build, and test while meeting schedule commitments.

The OPM collaborates with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing to guide early product development, prototype hardware, and test strategies. A U.S. citizen with a DoD‑level clearance is expected.

Qualifications

• University Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience or an Advanced Degree with 5+ years of experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Clearance.
• Experience in aerospace/defense or other highly regulated industries.
• Producibility-focused experience in engineering builds or prototype hardware.
• Strong factory processes, test strategy, DFM/DFA, and Lean concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational execution for early development and prototype hardware within the CBEC portfolio, focusing on design influence and readiness for scale‑up.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, and Manufacturing to identify producibility opportunities early and drive improvements.
• Support prototype build planning, hardware readiness reviews, early test strategies, and issue resolution.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks related to design decisions, manufacturability constraints, test methods, and build flows.
• Champion early producibility improvements and capture lessons learned for engineering and process development.
• Translate engineering concepts into practical manufacturing approaches using industrial and mechanical engineering principles.
• Support creation and refinement of prototype BOMs, routings, tooling concepts, and test processes.

Skills

Engineering background

Producibility focus

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

U.S. Citizenship

Education

University Degree

Advanced Degree

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Operations Program Manager (OPM) – CBEC Portfolio

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.

Role Overview

The Operations Program Manager (OPM) for the CBEC portfolio will serve as a key operational partner supporting early-stage product development, prototype hardware, and emerging technology programs. Unlike traditional OPM roles heavily focused on factory transition and end-of-life activities, this position is uniquely centered on shaping products during their earliest phases—where the opportunity for improvement, producibility enhancement, and cross‑functional alignment is greatest. We are seeking an OPM who is well versed in multiple Operations disciplines—ideally engineering- industrial, mechanical, test, or manufacturing engineering—who can embed technical rigor into design decisions, prototype builds, and early producibility strategy. Responsible for setting product development strategies that ensure the long‑term viability of product producibility. The OPM’s primary focus is to deliver new product designs to Manufacturing that result in the lowest material, assembly, and test cost possible while meeting the cost, schedule, and scope commitments of the design & development (NRE) program.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational execution for early development and prototype hardware within the CBEC portfolio, focusing on design influence, manufacturability, and readiness for future scale‑up.


• Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, and Manufacturing to identify producibility opportunities early and drive improvements before products mature.


• Support prototype build planning, hardware readiness reviews, early test strategies, and hands‑on issue resolution.


• Drive identification and mitigation of operational risks related to design decisions, manufacturability constraints, test methodologies, and prototype build flows.


• Champion early producibility improvements, ensuring lessons learned are captured, communicated, and integrated back into engineering and process development.


• Translate engineering concepts into practical manufacturing approaches using industrial and mechanical engineering principles.


• Collaborate with Test Engineering to shape early test strategies that balance maturity, throughput, and cost.


• Support creation and refinement of early build documentation, including prototype BOMs, preliminary routings, tooling concepts, and test processes.


• Lead cross‑functional engagement without direct authority, ensuring teams remain aligned through rapid design changes and prototype iterations.


• Provide capital project management support for operations‑related upgrades and capability investments, including scoping, planning, coordinating installation activities, and ensuring alignment with long‑term producibility and factory strategy.


• Communicate program status, readiness indicators, risks, and improvements to leadership with clarity and technical depth.

Qualifications

• University Degree and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.


• An existing or the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Clearance.


• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries.


• Demonstrated experience supporting early development, engineering builds, or prototype hardware with strong focus on producibility.


• Strong technical foundation in factory processes, test strategy, design‑for‑manufacturing, and operations engineering.


• Demonstrated ability to influence and drive alignment across engineering and operations teams without formal authority.


• Excellent problem‑solving skills with a hands‑on, detail‑oriented approach.


• Must be a U.S. Citizen.


• Familiarity with CBEC products or comparable complex electronic/avionic systems.


• Knowledge of DFM/DFA, PFMEA, prototype flow management, and Lean Manufacturing principles.


• Experience supporting capital projects or facility upgrades linked to manufacturing capability improvements.


• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and analyzing manufacturing or engineering data.

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!

Additional Benefits and Compensation

• 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.

Salary

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.

Location & Work Arrangement

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-166 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 166.

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.

Eligibility & Security Clearance

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: 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.

Security Clearance Type: DoD Clearance: Secret. Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required after day 1.

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.

Other Details

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Company Overview

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.