Senior Systems Engineering Manager

Job Details

Date Posted: 2026-02-04
Country: United States of America
Location: US-TX-RICHARDSON-461 ~ 3200 E Renner Rd ~ RENNER BLDG 461
Position Role Type: Onsite
Salary Range: $132,400 USD - $251,600 USD

Security Clearance 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 Type: DoD Clearance: Secret
• Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1
• Ability to obtain Top Secret after start

About the Role

Strategic Defense Solutions is seeking a Senior Systems Engineering Manager to lead systems engineering execution on high-impact Department of Defense programs. This role is for a proven leader who understands that disciplined systems engineering—and the effective management of engineering talent—directly enables mission success and national security outcomes. You will provide technical and functional leadership to teams of systems engineers, with accountability for lifecycle rigor across requirements, architecture, integration, and verification. You will manage and allocate engineering resources to meet program priorities, develop and mentor senior engineering talent, and ensure the right skills are aligned to the right mission needs. This role requires decisive leadership, sound technical judgment, and the ability to translate mission objectives into executable plans in high-consequence environments.

What You Will Do

• Technical Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of systems engineers, providing technical direction and applying sound systems engineering principles across the full development lifecycle.
• Program Execution: Own engineering execution for scope, schedule, and cost, with direct involvement in project planning, Earned Value Management (EVM), and risk management activities.
• Process & Compliance: Ensure disciplined use of established development processes, lifecycle plans, and tools, including adherence to avionics certification standards and ARP-4754-aligned systems development.
• Bids & Proposals: Lead, review, and provide technical guidance for proposal and capture activities, ensuring credible, executable engineering content.
• People & Resource Management: Make hiring and staffing decisions, conduct performance management, address personnel matters, and build a highly engaged, high-performing engineering team.
• Organizational Leadership: Partner with peers and leadership to plan and execute broader departmental and strategic initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
• Active and transferable Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date with the ability to obtain Top Secret after start
• Experience in a project engineering or technical lead role with cost and schedule accountability, including a strong background in Earned Value Management

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated adaptability and resilience in dynamic environments with changing priorities and resource constraints
• Strong emotional intelligence, maintaining composure and objectivity under pressure
• Highly self-motivated leader capable of fostering a positive, accountable team culture
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Team-first mindset with a focus on collective success
• Strong analytical, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent efforts
• Ability to assess engineering performance against plan and proactively drive corrective actions
• Experience developing and maintaining staffing plans, including recruiting, hiring, and onboarding
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop engineers
• Experience with Agile development methodologies
• Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite, including JIRA
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, program leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders

Benefits

• 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
• May be eligible for relocation

About Mission 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 and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow.

Work Arrangement

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.

Please consider that 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.

Additional Information

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.

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.