Associate Director, Mechanical Engineering (Onsite)

Date Posted: 2026-06-23 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-CHULA VISTA-B107 ~ 850 Lagoon Dr ~ BLDG 107, Mail Zone 1-C Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role. Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required Security Clearance Status: Not Required At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world. Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense. We are seeking a highly experienced senior level design engineer to serve as a technical leader responsible for driving complex design solutions, guiding engineering execution, and shaping technical direction across programs. This role provides deep subject matter expertise, leads cross-functional design efforts, and ensures that engineering solutions meet stringent performance, reliability, manufacturability, and compliance requirements. What You Will Do: Lead the architecture, design, development, and verification of complex systems, subsystems, or components. Serve as a technical authority and subject matter expert, providing direction and resolving high impact technical challenges. Conduct and guide detailed trade studies, design analysis, modeling, and optimization. Develop design strategies, roadmaps, and execution plans aligned with program objectives. Provide technical leadership to teams across engineering disciplines and program/projects areas. Review and approve engineering artifacts, drawings, models, specifications, and analyses. Ensure designs meet program requirements including performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, compliance, and certification standards. Collaborate with suppliers, customers, program managers, manufacturing, and operations to ensure robust integrated design solutions. Support proposal development, including concept development and cost/labor estimate inputs. Lead root cause investigations and apply structured problem solving methods to prevent recurrence. Mentor and guide junior and midlevel engineers; foster technical development within the organization. Influence technology strategy, design frameworks, processes, and tools. Represent the engineering organization in design reviews, customer discussions, and technical working groups. 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. 12+ years of experience in mechanical or aerospace design engineering, preferably in propulsion systems or nacelles. Experience with 3D CAD tools (CATIA V5/V6 preferred; SolidWorks or NX acceptable) and understanding of manufacturing processes. Experience with GD&T practices, tolerance stack-ups, root cause analysis, design for manufacturability principles, and relevant aerospace industry standards Experience with leading or contributing to Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA) Experience with PLM systems (Teamcenter, Enovia, etc.) Background in advanced concept development or technology maturation programs. Experience with structural principles, materials behavior, and certification requirements. Experience leading complex technical projects and drive engineering solutions with minimal supervision. Experience participating in or leading major technical reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.). Qualifications We Prefer: Excellent communication, leadership, collaboration capabilities. and mentoring skills. Ability to influence and lead teams with minimal supervision. Highly organized with strong problem-solving and decision making skills. Self-driven, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities. What We Offer: Benefits: Some of our competitive benefits package includes: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option Tuition reimbursement program Student Loan Repayment Program Life insurance and disability coverage Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning Adoption Assistance Autism Benefit Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits Bright Horizons, child and elder care services Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program And more! This role may be eligible for relocation. Learn More & Apply Now! Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Our industry-leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation. Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities? If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies. Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will work to find a way – the right way – to achieve what others can only dream of. Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products. At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again. Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day. As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote. The salary range for this role is 172,900 USD - 328,700 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills. Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance. This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply. RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window. RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.