Senior Manager, Defense R&D — Active Secret Clearance

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

3 weeks vacation

401(k) plan with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Relocation assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Senior Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team of mechanical and electrical researchers in Cedar Rapids, driving rapid prototyping and technology development from lab to mission.

The role requires active U.S. government security clearance, 10+ years of technical leadership in defense or aerospace, and a STEM degree. This onsite position includes relocation support and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Active and transferable U.S. government security clearance required.
• 10+ years in technical leadership; defense/aerospace experience preferred.
• STEM degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required for clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor mechanical, electrical, and cross‑disciplinary research engineers.
• Drive research projects, prototyping, and evaluation of novel defense systems.
• Partner with program managers to transition research to production.
• Support proposal development and customer engagement for R&D opportunities.
• Ensure safety, quality, and alignment with ART/DART objectives.
• Travel up to 15% as needed.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mechanical design

Electrical design

Defense programs

Prototyping

Project management

Security clearance

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

Model-based engineering

RF equipment

Job description

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Senior Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team of mechanical and electrical researchers in Cedar Rapids, driving rapid prototyping and technology development from lab to mission.

The role requires active U.S. government security clearance, 10+ years of technical leadership in defense or aerospace, and a STEM degree. This onsite position includes relocation support and a comprehensive benefits package.