Director - Program Manager - Emerging Capabilities (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-02-06

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-166 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 166

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Top Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

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.

Our Emerging Capabilities (EC) portfolio has a need for a Director of Program Management, leading our Research and Development organization.  The EC organization is chartered to seek out next generation capabilities that support the long-term growth and future technology needs of Collins Aerospace.  The EC team identifies and incubates low TRL capabilities with Science and Technology (S&T) organizations across industry including DARPA, AFRL, ONR, ARL, NASA and others.   The capabilities span all of Collins Aerospace including Connectivity, Secure Processing, Command and Control, Autonomy, Strategic Deterrence, Flight Management, Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, proprietary programs, and many more. 

This Program Director will lead a team of leaders focused on pursuit, proposal, and execution efforts to capture new programs and establish technology roadmaps that align with emerging needs. They will interface with a cross functional team of other program managers, business development, strategy and engineering personnel to develop transition plans for new technologies and capabilities to business units across Collins Aerospace to fuel future business growth and solve the most challenging and emerging customer needs.

What You Will Do

• Direct and lead the business strategy and vision for multiple EC technology areas

• Lead Program Managers that manage multiple external programs & internally funded technology efforts simultaneously

• Lead cross functional teams across local and remote locations and time zones

• Defining and recommending the prioritization of externally funded pursuits and IRAD funded efforts, working collaboratively with Business Development (BD), Strategy, and Engineering

• Lead and be accountable for Pursuit, Order, Capture activities as part of growing the business, leveraging business development, strategy, and engineering partners

• Interface with customers (e.g., DARPA, AFRL, NRL, NSA, Prime Contractors, etc.) during pursuit and program execution

• Responsible for meeting contractual commitments including financial, technical, and schedule performance of assigned programs

• Actively involved with Strategic Financial Planning and Annual Operating Plan processes for associated Critical Technology Areas

• Perform regular program EACs, PMRs and IRAD reviews with an ability to brief senior leadership

• Travel up to 20% of the time

Qualifications You Must Have ​

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 14 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 12 years of experience

• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued Security Clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

• Demonstrated ability to lead leaders and across cross functional teams

• Demonstrated ability to brief senior leadership both internally and externally

• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple efforts simultaneously

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with team members in remote locations

• Demonstrated ability to provide positive interface with S&T customers (DARPA, AFRL, NRL, NSA, etc.) and Prime contractors

• Experience / Knowledge with products and systems in the following areas: Flight Management, Communications, Datalinks, Networks, Waveforms, Apertures, Real-Time Data Dissemination, Open Standards/Architectures, System of System Architectures, Command and Control in Contested Environments, Position Navigation and Timing (PNT), Wireless Communications, or Advanced Materials & Manufacturing

• Experience with Earned Value Management and R&O man