Program Lockheed Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted:
2026-07-15
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-IL-ROCKFORD-P6 ~ 4747 Harrison Ave ~ 4747 HARRISON AVE-P6
Position Role Type:
Onsite
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
Security Clearance Type:
None/Not Required
Security Clearance Status:
Not Required
The Associate Director, Program Management (Or otherwise referred to as General Manager) - Power, Actuation, & Chemical Sensing (PACS) will lead a strategically important defense business within Collins Aerospace's Thermal, Electronic and Defense Solutions organization. Based onsite in Rockford, Illinois, with oversight of operations in San Dimas, California, this role is responsible for driving the overall performance, growth, and execution of a portfolio that delivers mission critical power, actuation, propulsion, and chemical sensing technologies supporting major U.S. and allied defense programs. The General Manager will shape business strategy while ensuring operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and long term sustainable growth across a portfolio experiencing significant demand expansion.
This leader will oversee business operations, financial performance, and cross functional execution while partnering with engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, and program management teams to deliver on cost, schedule, and technical commitments. A key focus of the role will be leading operational readiness and production growth for critical defense programs, including major capacity expansion initiatives, while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration. The position also serves as a primary executive interface with senior Collins leadership, government customers, and industry partners, making it an exceptional opportunity for a proven manufacturing or defense leader to influence the future of high priority national defense capabilities.
This is an Onsite role in Rockford, IL.
What You Will Do:
Business Leadership

• Own performance for the PACS business, ensuring profitable growth, accurate forecasting, and predictable execution
• Lead business strategy, long-range planning, and customer engagement across defense portfolios (THAAD, Abrams, D5, Spearfish)
• Prepare and present program status, risks, strategy, and performance to Collins senior leadership
• Drive program growth initiatives, shaping future phases of THAAD MYP, torpedo propulsion, and armored-vehicle power systems

Operational Transformation

• Lead all Rockford PACS program activities
• Champion Lean and continuous-improvement practices to eliminate backlog, improve OTD, and increase throughput
• Ensure production readiness for increasing annual demand across all major defense programs
• Optimize use of shared assets and ensure program support for high-reliability defense manufacturing

Site & Talent Leadership

• Serve as the senior site leader for PACS within Rockford, driving engagement, culture, accountability, and operational discipline
• Build and sustain high-performing cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality
• Drive a positive leadership culture that supports bargaining-unit workforce effectiveness, retention, and continuous improvement
• Lead aggressive execution to support long-term rate growth programs

Program & Customer Excellence

• Lead cross-functional IPTs to ensure adherence to cost, schedule, and technical requirements
• Manage direct engagement with Lockheed Martin, DoW, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and international defense customers
• Identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and ensure timely delivery across all programs
• Accountable for effective supplier strategy, readiness, and performance for unique PACS components

THAAD TVA Acceleration (Critical Focus Area)

• Lead Rockford execution of the MAT-driven Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) for THAAD TVA
• Deliver the required production rate increases to meet DoW demand, scaling to defined aggressive monthly rates under the accelerated profile
• Execute capital and facilitization investments required for high-rate operations (equipment, fixtures, test capability, infrastructure)
• Maintain cash neutrality through milestone-based payment structures defined with Lockheed Martin and the DoW
• Provide frequent updates to Collins executives, this is one of the highest-visibility execution programs in the enterprise

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 12 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 10 years of experience
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environment (Program Management, Operations, Engineering, or equivalent leadership roles are acceptable)
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in schedule-driven, highly regulated programs - including cost, schedule, technical execution, or customer engagement accountability

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Strong decision-making skills with the ability to influence across functional organizations (Ops, Eng, SC, Quality, Program Management)P&L ownership and general management experience in manufacturing environment
• Experience leading major defense program scale-ups, accelerations, or MYP execution
• Operational turnaround experience: backlog recovery, OTD improvement, throughput increases
• Experience in highly regulated or safety-critical manufacturing environments
• Success building and developing high-performing teams during periods of significant growth
• Familiarity with shared-asset manufacturing environments, lean principles, and unionized labor structures

What We Offer:
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!

Relocation Eligibility

• Eligible for relocation

Learn More & Apply Now!
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. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.
*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.
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 157,200 USD - 298,800 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.
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