Project Chief - Computing Products (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) with employer matching

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Program Chief for the Computing Products Department (CPD) in the DCCN directorate. You will lead engineering teams across all program phases, ensure cost, schedule and technical performance commitments, and liaise with customers, program management, and manufacturing to deliver avionics products.

The role requires deep knowledge of processing platforms, EVMS/risk management, and strong leadership to drive programs from pursuit to production.

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree and 10+ years related experience, or advanced degree and 7+ years.
• Experience in Avionics product development across lifecycle.
• Experience managing technical projects including schedule and Earned Value management, risk management, customer interaction, and briefing executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own engineering execution across all program phases including pursuit, bidding, planning, execution, and transition to production.
• Manage budget and schedule for program engineering tasks; review progress regularly.
• Develop Estimates at Completion (EAC) with Engineering Cost Account Managers.
• Ensure staffing forecasts and assign appropriate staffing.
• Provide oversight of program metrics and TPMs to measure progress.
• Oversee and manage engineering risks and opportunities across the program.
• Lead customer-focused activities including bids, proposals, and technical presentations.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Earned Value Mgmt

Risk management

Customer interaction

Executive briefing

Communication

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Regulatory knowledge (TSO, MIL-STD, DO-160/178/254)

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-15

Country: United States of America

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-131 ~ 5450 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 131

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will seek an export authorization for this role, if required. RTX must be able to obtain and maintain the U.S. export authorization.

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.

The Computing Products Department (CPD) within the Displays, Controls, Computing and Networking (DCCN) directorate has an opening for a Program Chief. This department is responsible for product line engineering technology maturation, design, development, production transition, and in-service supportacross all of Avionics including Comm Av, B&RA and MilAv. CPD holds expertise in key technologies for aerospace (processing, network, video/graphics, and IO) and supports key strategic initiatives for processing, graphics, and networking.

We are looking for a strong, passionate leader with an action oriented, collaborative mindset, who operates with a vision, delivers benefits to exceed expectations, builds and enhances his/her teams, evaluates performance of self and others by results, plans for his/her team’s needs, anticipates project/organizational change, all while operating with integrity.

CPD is responsible for designing products for both commercial and military avionics. The successful candidate will lead and manage projects to meet cost, schedule and technical performance commitments, working closely with peer engineers, program management, manufacturing, and customers. They are the single point of contact for engineering responsible for the technical leadership and project management of design & development activities, within the guidelines set by the product line, program manager, and our customers. This person will also lead customer focused activities including bids, proposals, and technical presentations.

What You Will Do:

• Ensure overall Engineering execution within the program, having decision authority over Engineering activities during all program phases including pursuit, bidding, planning, execution, and transition to production
• Manage overall budget and schedule for program Engineering tasks, working closely with the engineering discipline organizations to review program execution on a periodic basis to ensure meeting schedule and cost
• Develop executable Estimates at Completion (EAC) for the program in collaboration with the responsible Engineering Cost Account Managers
• Ensure staffing forecasts are accurate and up to date, and work with Engineering discipline organizations to ensure appropriate staffing is assigned
• Provide oversight and review all program metrics for engineering, ensuring application of Technical Performance Measures (TPMs) across the program as a means for measuring technical progress and assessing risk
• Oversee and manage engineering Risks and Opportunities across the program, leveraging the enterprise to mitigate key risks and capture opportunities
• Ensure consistency with Collins Avionics RLPM processes
• Ensure compliance with Program and Product requirements as reflected in design plans
• Lead a wide range of entry-level to highly experienced engineers
• Demonstrate technical expertise in processing platforms and the associated technologies
• Maintains awareness of key technologies and the company’s competitive position

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience.
• Working knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines with a strong focus on Avionics product development and experience in all phases of development lifecycle
• Experience managing technical projects including schedule and Earned Value management, risk management, customer interaction, and briefing executive leadership

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with Avionics regulatory and certification requirements: TSO, MIL-STD, DO-160, DO-254, DO-178B/C
• Demonstrated ability to lead a development team from pursuit to startup through transition to production
• Strong communication skills; able to interface with the spectrum of individual contributor to executive leadership

What We Offer

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
• Carrot Health to hormonal health, fertility, and family building
• 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!

Eligible for relocation

Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs).

Our industry-leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation. Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities? If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies.

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.

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.

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 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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