Leadership Development Program – Operations, Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Track (Starts June 2027)

Date Posted: 2026-08-24 | Location: Arlington, VA (Rosslyn HQ) | Role Type: Onsite | U.S. citizenship is required for this program.

About the role

Discover an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate your engineering career and develop into a future operational leader at RTX. Our Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP)-Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering Track provides challenging, high-visibility assignments across the enterprise, allowing you to build a powerful global network. You will receive high-caliber training, professional mentoring, and frontline, hands-on engineering experience directly on our manufacturing shop floors. This fast-paced path expands your business acumen, sharpens your technical expertise, and prepares you to make a lasting impact on our global operations. The next cohort begins June 2027.

Responsibilities

• Complete multiple rotational assignments across various U.S. locations, adapting quickly to new manufacturing facilities, business units, and engineering teams.
• Execute core engineering duties and technical projects within one or more specialized program tracks, including Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Parts Manufacturing, and Operational Efficiency and/or Productivity.
• Identify and implement shop floor process improvements that increase production output, eliminate waste, and reduce overall costs.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to shop floor personnel to resolve challenges and implement process improvements in production and development environments.
• Interpret blueprints and apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) principles to support component manufacturing processes.
• Utilize advanced design and analytical software to enhance, model, and streamline manufacturing operations.
• Develop and improve manufacturing planning, operations sequencing, and work instructions to ensure product quality and efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to apply Lean principles and Six Sigma methodologies, utilizing process data to drive long-term manufacturing strategies.
• Participate in high-impact special projects involving cost reduction, specialized machining processes, and domestic supplier support activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a closely related Engineering discipline. Degree must be obtained by start date.
• Willing and able to operationally relocate to various RTX geographic locations across the United States for distinct program assignments.
• Experience or academic exposure interpreting technical drawings, blueprints, or manufacturing process specifications.
• Experience or coursework utilizing manufacturing design, modeling, or analytical software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Creo, MATLAB, Minitab or other relevant tools.
• Demonstrated experience or coursework utilizing structured process improvement methodologies, such as Lean principles, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), or 5S frameworks.
• Relevant internship/co-op or work experience in manufacturing, industrial engineering, quality or test environments.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Proactive and engaged approach to performing hands-on engineering tasks within a dynamic shop floor environment.
• Demonstrated leadership ability through academic projects, student organizations, or community involvement.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the capability to contribute constructively to cross-functional team discussions.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with an ability to challenge existing processes and develop innovative solutions.
• Agile and receptive mindset, with a strong commitment to continuous learning and strategic task prioritization.
• Familiarity or comfort working around modern industrial machine tools and manufacturing equipment.
• Prior RTX internship, co-op, or work experience.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and robust total rewards package.
• Healthcare, wellness, retirement, and work/life benefits.
• Parental (including paternal) leave.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Achievement awards and educational assistance.
• Child/adult backup care.
• RTX leadership, functional, and business acumen training.
• Upon program completion, LDP graduates receive continued mentorship and a solid platform of skills to launch a successful RTX career.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, and 401(k) match (specific benefits dependent on business unit and collective-bargaining agreements).
• Employee assistance program and Employee Scholar Program.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Eligibility for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (dependent on role level and collective-bargaining agreements).

Pay

The salary range for this role is 59,000 USD - 139,000 USD. The 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.