Principal Specialist, Operating System

RTX•Foley, AL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Specialist, Operating System will work onsite at Collins Aerospace’s Foley, Alabama OEM facility and serve as the tactical leader for Continuous Improvement (CI). The role advances and sustains the CORE (Customer Oriented Results & Excellence) operating system across an assigned program, such as Boeing, Business Jet, Airbus, or Site Mall functions. It provides leadership, governance, and execution oversight for enterprise improvement initiatives that improve operational performance and maturity, eliminate waste, and foster adoption of CI methodologies. The position works with program and functional leaders to align improvement priorities with business strategy and customer commitments. It leads complex cross-functional initiatives and structured improvement activities, establishes and tracks performance measures, and ensures effective governance and sustained process changes. The role also promotes consistent CI practices across the business and ensures initiatives comply with safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements. Work involves presence in production areas with noise, machinery, and industrial environmental conditions. Travel may be up to 25%. The position is onsite in Foley, Alabama and requires a U.S. Person; security clearance is not required.

Requirements

Typically, a university degree and at least 5 years of prior relevant experience, or an advanced degree in a related field and at least 3 years of experience.
Must be a U.S. Person. The role requires access to ITAR or 600/500-series EAR information or hardware, and the company will not seek export authorization for the role.
Knowledge or experience with Lean, CORE, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Nice To Haves

Lean/Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or equivalent CORE Certification).
University degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience in the manufacturing or automotive industry.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic direction, long-term planning, and governance of CORE deployment across the assigned program.
Align continuous improvement priorities with business strategy, cost reduction goals, productivity improvements, quality enhancements, and customer commitments.
Advise program leadership teams on operational excellence, transformation planning, and CORE maturity development.
Oversee complex cross-functional improvement initiatives affecting productivity, operational headcount, cost structure, delivery performance, scrap/rework/repair reduction, equipment reliability, hours reduction, and safety.
Lead Kaizen events, Lean transformations, and structured problem-solving activities, ensuring outcomes become sustainable process changes.
Define and track enterprise-level KPI improvements driven by CORE initiatives.
Manage project governance, including maturity assessments, action plans, and progress reporting to the site CORE manager.
Use data-driven insights to identify systemic issues, risk areas, and long-term performance improvement opportunities.
Partner with CORE program leaders and functional leaders to standardize best practices, CI methodologies, and site operating system maturity.
Share lessons learned, scalable solutions, and enterprise improvement strategies with the broader RTX CI community.
Ensure CORE initiatives meet applicable safety, quality, regulatory, and compliance requirements.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence across assigned areas.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
401(k) plan with employer matching funds and a separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
Tuition reimbursement program.
Student Loan Repayment Program.
Life insurance and disability coverage.
Optional pet, home and auto, additional life and accident, critical illness, group legal, and identity theft protection coverages.
Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits.
Carrot Health support for hormonal health, fertility, and family building.
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.
Potential eligibility for relocation assistance.
Potential eligibility for short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation.
Potential benefits include short-term and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, Employee Scholar Program, paid time off, and holidays.