> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2684705-engineering-director-platform-production-and-sustainment-ipt-chief-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2684705-engineering-director-platform-production-and-sustainment-ipt-chief-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Engineering Director - Platform, Production, and Sustainment IPT Chief Engineer - **Company:** RTX - **Location:** Richardson, TX, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $186,200.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, Software Architecture, Systems Integration, Test Execution Engine - **Published:** September 2, 2026 - **Apply:** https://globalhr.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/REC_RTX_Ext_Gateway/job/US-TX-RICHARDSON-C17--1717-Cityline-Dr--CITYLINE-C17/Engineering-Director---Platform--Production--and-Sustainment-IPT-Chief-Engineer_01871715 ## About the Role 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, * Active and transferable DoD Secret security clearance. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance. * Ideally a Bachelor's degree in STEM and at least 14 years engineering experience, or advanced degree with 12+ years relevant experience. * Demonstrated experience in systems engineering, subsystem development, integration, verification, validation, or test on major defense or aerospace programs. * Experience leading engineering teams, project engineers, or cross-functional subsystem development groups. * Experience with EVMS, technical baseline management, and structured risk and opportunity management. * Strong technical judgment with the ability to identify issues early and lead cross-functional investigation and resolution. * Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including customer-facing interactions. Qualifications We Prefer: * Leadership experience on complex, multi-year aerospace or defense development programs. * Experience developing aircraft interiors, flight deck systems, power distribution/control systems, or supporting production transition activities. * Experience preparing subsystems for higher-level system integration, verification, and validation environments. * Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and model-based verification planning. * Experience leading engineering teams across multiple U.S. locations. * Advanced technical degree (M.S. or Ph.D.). * Active and transferable DoD Top Secret security clearance. ## Description Collins Aerospace is seeking an experienced technical and functional leader to serve as the Chief Engineer for the Platform, Production, and Sustainment (PPS) Integrated Product Team (IPT) on the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program. This Director level leader is responsible for technical execution across the flight deck efforts, interior monuments, interior seating systems, power and controls activities, as well as engineering planning and preparation for production transition. This role ensures subsystem engineering rigor, integration readiness, and production-aligned technical maturity across multiple engineering domains. Sign-on Bonus Eligible What You Will Do: * Provide executive-level technical leadership for all Platform, Production, and Sustainment subsystem development, integration, and subsystem-level test execution activities. * Serve as the functional leader for all Project Engineers assigned to the PPS IPT, ensuring organizational alignment, mentoring, staffing, and performance oversight. * Lead technical execution across flight deck systems, interior monuments, seating, and power & controls disciplines to ensure requirements, design maturity, and integration readiness. * Ensure subsystem requirements development, allocation, traceability, and verification planning align with Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test (SEIT)-owned technical baselines and program architecture. * Oversee production transition planning, ensuring engineering outputs, documentation, and configuration baselines are ready for manufacturing and sustainment environments. * Identify early indicators of subsystem-level technical issues, integration risks, or production blockers and drive resolution with cross-functional teams. * Lead technical reviews, integration readiness events, production-preparation milestones, and collaborative exchanges with SEIT and other IPTs. * Collaborate with Program Management in support of EVMS, cost account performance, schedule integration, and structured risk & opportunity management. * Represent the Platform, Production, and Sustainment technical organization to customer engineering and government counterparts. * Promote engineering discipline, configuration control, and adherence to Collins and RTX development and production processes. ## Related Videos - [Great DevEx and Regulatory Compliance - Possible?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1426-great-devex-and-regulatory-compliance-possible) - [Model Based Systems Engineering in an Agile Product Development Process](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/68-model-based-systems-engineering-in-an-agile-product-development-process) - [AI Agents & Agentic AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2017-ai-agents-agentic-ai) - [Modern software architectures](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1684-modern-software-architectures) - [Automated Driving - Why is it so hard to introduce](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/628-automated-driving-why-is-it-so-hard-to-introduce) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) ## Related Articles - [From developer to manager – what does it take to become an engineering manager?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/42-from-developer-to-manager-what-does-it-take-to-become-an-engineering-manager) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard)