Associate Director, Engineering Leader - JADC2 Experimentation and Demonstration Team

Date Posted:

2026-01-02

Country:

United States of America

Location:

HIA32: Cedar Rapids, IA 400 Collins Rd NE , Cedar Rapids, IA, 52498-0505 USA

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:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Joining Collins Aerospace isn’t just about finding a job; it’s about embarking on a journey to redefine the future of aerospace technology.

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. 

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Associate Director to lead the JADC2 Experimentation and Demonstration team. This role will focus on driving the integration, and demonstration of advanced capabilities that enable seamless multi-domain operations for our customers. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in systems engineering, leadership experience, and a passion for advancing JADC2 capabilities.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the JADC2 Experimentation and Demonstration team in the design, development, and integration of advanced capabilities and technologies. 

• Oversee the planning and execution of system demonstrations, experiments, and prototypes to showcase JADC2 capabilities to customers and stakeholders. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including program management, software engineering, hardware engineering, and business development, to ensure alignment with customer requirements and program objectives. 

• Coordinate staffing needs, including identifying and allocating resources, to ensure successful execution of demonstration programs and experiments. 

• Develop and implement systems engineering processes and best practices to ensure technical excellence and program success. 

• Serve as the primary interface with internal stakeholders and leaders, providing updates on demonstration progress. 

• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in JADC2 systems and processes to maintain a competitive edge in the market. 

• Apply expertise in airworthiness certification and cyber approvals to ensure compliance with customer and regulatory requirements for system demonstrations.

• Mentor and develop team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence. 

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 12 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 10 years of experience.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in systems engineering, with a focus on defense or aerospace systems. 

• Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and leading complex technical projects. 

• Strong understanding of JADC2 concepts, technologies, and operational requirements. 

• Experience with system integration, testing, and demonstration in a multi-domain environment. 

• Experience with airworthiness certification processes and cyber approvals for mission-critical systems.

• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance is required prior to start date.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with customers, stakeholders, and team members. 

• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes and requirements.

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance along with special access programs (or eligibility to upgrade).

• Knowledge of DoD acquisition processes and requirements. 

• Familiarity with current DoD capabilities in command and control, communications and datalinks.

• Familiarity with emerging technologies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous systems. 

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 — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent a