Team Lead – Digital Manufacturing and Optimization

Date Posted: 2025-11-04

Country: United States of America

Location: UT13: RC-CT - Corp 411 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT, 06108 USA

Position Role Type: Hybrid

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract
• Security Clearance: None/Not Required

About RTX Corporation

RTX Corporation 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 Systems, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 185,000 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, VA.

About the Role

The RTX Technology Research Center (RTRC) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Team Lead – Digital Manufacturing and Optimization. The candidate will lead an experienced research team that specializes in the development and demonstration of advanced product design techniques, new process models and optimization tools, manufacturing process monitoring and qualification approaches, and digital thread in manufacturing.

The individual will work with the team in a fast-paced R&D environment alongside leading scientists and engineers from across RTRC and the greater RTX organization (including Collins Aerospace, Pratt and Whitney, and Raytheon) to conceive, develop, and demonstrate scalable agile design and manufacturing technologies for the next generation of aerospace and defense platforms.

The successful candidate will lead a team working at the intersection of design, advanced manufacturing, qualification, robotics/automation, and process modeling to redefine how RTX designs and delivers its products. The team is focused on utilizing a cross-disciplinary approach to address critical challenges faced by the aerospace and defense industries.

New manufacturing technologies and associated design, process modeling, qualification and certification, and inspection techniques are needed to meet demand, drive quality, while enabling the flexibility and surge capacity required. This offers the opportunity to leverage agile, algorithmically driven design tools like implicit geometry modeling, linked to multi-modality, tooling-free manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing to rapidly produce high performance, cost-effective hardware for critical aerospace and defense products.

The ideal candidate will support the definition and execution of a strategy to realize this vision. The position offers the opportunity to lead cross-disciplinary teams to develop technology for eventual transition into the RTX business units.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-disciplinary teams in the development and execution of an innovative research portfolio in support of RTRC strategic technical focus areas and RTX business unit priorities
• Define program and pursuit strategy for the Digital Manufacturing and Optimization team to maximize impact of project portfolio
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships with key stakeholders both within RTX business units and outside RTX
• Pursue IRAD and CRAD funding to advance strategic objectives and close technology gaps
• Contribute to overall discipline health through targeted hiring and training
• Support team members' professional growth and career development
• Manage a portfolio of ongoing research programs, identify gaps and needs, and conceive, market, propose, win, and execute new IRAD and CRAD projects required to meet organizational goals

Required Qualifications

• PhD degree (or equivalent terminal degree) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science or related discipline
• A minimum of seven years of professional experience
• Strong record of technical contributions in the domain of design optimization, multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO), process modeling, digital thread, or related technical area, including technical reporting and program management
• Experience with one or more advanced manufacturing methods including but not limited to: additive manufacturing (powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, etc.), welding, joining, robotic forming or assembly, cold spray, hybrid manufacturing, machining, forming, casting, etc.
• Experience in proposal writing for external research and development funding opportunities from US Government agencies
• U.S. Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated prior team leadership, mentoring, and staff development experience
• Demonstrated ability to build strong customer relationships both within and outside immediate organization
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and deliver on challenging technical objectives through creative problem solving and innovative thinking
• Hands-on experience with topology optimization tools such as n Topology n Top, or Altair Inspire
• A record of successful execution on both internally and externally funded research projects
• Significant contributions to advances in design tools and optimization frameworks, advanced manufacturing techniques, or related technologies as evidenced by patents, publications, and / or recognition by technical societies
• Experience working alongside and interfacing closely with product and operations teams to produce hardware prototypes
• Background in application of manufacturing digital twin and digital thread
• Exceptional communication skills and capable of interacting with RTRC senior management, external customers, as well as members of the technical staff

Location

The position is hybrid and requires onsite presence in East Hartford CT. Relocation eligible!

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.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $124,000 USD - $250,000 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.

Benefits Package:

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 (including paternal)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Achievement awards
• Educational assistance
• Child/adult backup care

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 on various factors.