Associate Director Systems Engineering

Date Posted:

2026-09-22

 Country:

United Kingdom

 Location:

Winnersh, Wokingham

 Position Role Type:

Onsite

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defence 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 defence 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 defence.

Collins Aerospace is looking for an experienced Associate Director, Systems Engineering to provide technical and organisational leadership across complex aerospace and defence programmes located at our Winnersh facility near Reading. This is an onsite role.

What You Will Do:

Lead, manage and develop a high-performing Systems Engineering team across complex programmes, fostering a collaborative and technically excellent engineering environment.

Set the systems engineering strategy, technical direction and engineering priorities.

Provide leadership across requirements, system architecture, integration, verification and validation.

Drive the use of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and digital engineering practices.

Lead technical reviews, trade studies, risk management and resolution of complex engineering issues.

Work closely with Programme Management, Engineering, customers and suppliers to deliver programme objectives.

Provide senior technical input to bids, new business opportunities and technology roadmaps.

Develop engineering capability through coaching, mentoring and succession planning.

Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace, safety, quality and regulatory requirements.

What You Will Gain:

The latest technologies and systems-engineering practices across aerospace and defence.

Advanced MBSE, systems architecture and digital-engineering approaches.

How to lead complex, multidisciplinary engineering programmes within a global aerospace organisation.

Opportunities to engage with senior customers, government stakeholders and international engineering teams.

Strategic approaches to developing future products, technologies and engineering capabilities.

Qualifications You Must Have:

Degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related STEM discipline.

Significant experience in systems engineering within aerospace, defence or another highly regulated industry.

Proven experience leading and managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex technical programmes.

Strong knowledge of systems architecture, requirements management, integration, verification and validation.

Demonstrated technical leadership and strong stakeholder-management skills.

Ability to obtain and maintain UK Security Check (SC) clearance and meet all associated security and pre-employment requirements.

Qualifications We Prefer:

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards professional registration.

Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.

Experience within aerospace and defence, particularly mission systems, avionics, autonomy or integrated systems.

Working knowledge with MBSE and/or digital engineering methodologies.

Experience with MBSE and requirements-management tools.

Knowledge of relevant aerospace systems-engineering and safety standards, including ARP4754A and ARP4761.

Previous experience as a Systems Engineering Manager, Chief Engineer, Systems Architect, Engineering Manager or equivalent senior technical leader.

Existing SC clearance and experience supporting UK Government or defence programmes.

Experience leading geographically distributed or international engineering teams.

What We Offer:

People are core to what we do. As such, we are committed to providing an industry leading benefits package. We offer a highly competitive salary, annual bonus, and many other benefits to include:

Competitive Compensation Package

25 days Annual Leave + Public Holidays + option to buy / sell up to 5 days per year

Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme with 2:1 matched contributions up to 10%

Private Medical Insurance

Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan - (dental/optical/therapy/chiropody/health screening)

Life Assurance & Group Income protection scheme participation

Professional Development & Growth

Support with professional fees

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee Discounts & Flexible Benefits Platform

Employee Recognition & Referral Bonuses

and much more!

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

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.

Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

To learn more, please apply now!

RTX adheres to the principles of equal employment. All qualified applications will be given careful consideration without regard to ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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