Principal Project Engineer - Bid and Proposal Lead (ONSITE)
Prattwhitney
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Principal Project Engineer Bid & Proposal Lead to manage end-to-end responses to RFPs and lead competitive bids in a classified lab environment. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, ensure compliant proposals, and support negotiations and early program planning with engineering collaboration.
The role requires active U.S. government SECRET clearance and US citizenship, with travel around 10%.
Qualifications
- Experience with proposal development, bid leadership, or program pursuit roles.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex RFP requirements.
- Experience with bidding, estimating tools (SEER), and BOE development.
- Experience with EVM and understanding of government reporting requirements.
- Experience with risk & opportunity management.
- Ability to coordinate across multiple functions and manage competing priorities under tight deadlines.
Responsibilities
- Review RFPs, identify requirements, risks, and discriminators.
- Develop bid strategies and lead creation and delivery of proposals.
- Lead make-versus-buy analyses and manage subcontractor quotes and SSOWs.
- Coordinate reviews and content development across engineering, PM, finance, supply chain, and leadership.
- Support negotiations by developing positions and BOEs, and addressing customer questions.
- Assist program teams with early planning post-award and transition to execution.
- Maintain knowledge of proposal processes, templates, tools, and standards.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
Date Posted: 2026-08-31 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-121 ~ 350 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 121 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, 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. The Open Systems Solutions (OSS) Products develops open standards-compliant modular solutions and enables rapid deployment of mission critical capabilities to the warfighter. As part of Collins Mission Systems, OSS provides advanced communications, flight and ground computing, sensors, cyber solutions, and mission system integration. We are seeking a Principal Project Engineer Bid & Proposal Lead who is highly organized and detail oriented to manage end to end responses to requests for Proposals (RFPs) and lead competitive bids. The ideal candidate will be responsible for coordinating cross functional teams, ensuring compliant and compelling proposal submissions, and supporting follow on negotiation activities and early program planning once awards are made. You will work in a classified lab environment, supporting both technical planning and program execution in a classified lab environment, enabling close collaboration with engineering teams during pursuits and early program startup.
- Serve as the primary lead for reviewing RFPs, identifying requirements, risks, and discriminators
- Develop bid strategies and lead the creation, coordination, and delivery of compliant, high quality proposals
- Lead make versus buy analyses, manage subcontractor quotes, develop Subcontractor Statements of Work (SSOW), and provide ongoing oversight
- Facilitate and manage reviews, schedules, and content development across engineering, program management, finance, supply chain, and leadership stakeholders
- Prepare for and support negotiations by developing negotiation positions, creating BOEs, interfacing with the customer to resolve technical questions, and contributing to customer aligned messaging and discussions
- Assist program teams with early planning activities post award, including scope verification, baseline creation, and transition from pursuit to execution
- Maintain knowledge of business processes, gate reviews, and corporate proposal standards
- Track and manage proposal artifacts, actions, and status to ensure alignment with deadlines and quality expectations
- Contribute to product and technology road-mapping by aligning bid strategies and solution approaches with long term program and business objectives
- Contribute to continuous improvement in proposal processes, templates, tools, and bid management practices
- 10% travel required
- Experience with proposal development, bid leadership, or program pursuit roles
- Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret complex RFP requirements
- Experience with bidding, estimating tools (SEER), and BOE development
- Experience with EVM and understanding of government reporting requirements
- Experience with risk & opportunity management
- Proven ability to plan and execute engineering work to meet schedule, cost, and performance goals
- Familiarity with Agile processes and methodologies, including participation in Scrum or SAFe teams
- Experience with development processes including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, verification/validation, and transition to production
- Ability to coordinate across multiple functions and manage competing priorities under tight deadlines
- Active and transferable U.S. government issued SECRET security clearance is required prior to start date
- U.S. citizenship only (dual citizenship not permitted) is required, as access to information under this program/contract is restricted to individuals with sole U.S. citizenship
- 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
- Experience in aerospace, defense, or similar regulated industries
- Familiarity with government contracting, FAR/DFARS, TINA compliance, and customer requirements
- Prior involvement in negotiation support or program startup activities
- Experience with tools such as ProPricer, MS Project, or proposal management systems
- 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
- Carrot Health to hormonal 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!
Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions
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