Senior Project Engineer, Mission Systems & JEDI Lead

Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Project Chief Engineer to lead complex integration, experimentation, and field demonstrations for military customers. You will provide hands-on technical leadership across engineering domains, field environments, and secure facilities, shaping future connected battlespace capabilities.

You will guide technical execution, planning, and controls; coordinate proposals, budgets, and schedules; direct design direction and testing; resolve issues and coordinate

Qualifications

• 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
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Extensive experience in Mission Systems, aerospace, defense, or military‑relevant system roles.
• Demonstrated experience working across multiple security domains and adhering to classified information handling, security, and safeguarding procedures.
• Demonstrated project engineering experience leading complex, cross‑functional programs involving systems integration, technical execution, customer engagement, and field demonstrations.

Responsibilities

• Guide Technical Execution: Lead cross‑discipline technical execution across engineering domains, ensuring that all elements work together as a cohesive solution.
• Operational Planning and Project Controls: Design, communicate, and implement JEDI PMT technical plans, including engineering work breakdowns, schedules, and cost estimates.
• Proposals, Business Plans, and Contract Support: Coordinate technical inputs to proposals, budgets, and contractual terms for their product or customer area.
• Design Direction, Development, and Execution: Guide team to build design concepts, criteria, and engineering direction for research, development, integration, and test.
• Issue Resolution and Resource Coordination: Monitor progress, identify deviations, and drive timely resolution of technical issues.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the technical interface with management, program management, customers, and suppliers.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel up to 25%.

Skills

Technical leadership

Cross-domain coordination

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Mission systems

Secure environments

Job description

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Project Chief Engineer to lead complex integration, experimentation, and field demonstrations for military customers. You will provide hands-on technical leadership across engineering domains, field environments, and secure facilities, shaping future connected battlespace capabilities.

You will guide technical execution, planning, and controls; coordinate proposals, budgets, and schedules; direct design direction and testing; resolve issues and coordinate