Principal Specialist, Supplier Quality & Development – Commodity

Join Collins Aerospace as a Principal Specialist, Supplier Quality & Development professional and play a critical role in ensuring the performance, reliability, and continuous improvement of our global supply base. In this highly visible individual contributor role, you will serve as a key partner to both suppliers and internal stakeholders, driving quality excellence across complex commodities such as composites, plastics, textiles, and interior products.

This is a remote role based in the US (Illinois) with up to 30% travel throughout the Midwest US, primarily supporting locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Indiana. U.S. citizenship is required.

• Own supplier quality performance across assigned commodities, ensuring compliance with RTX, customer, and regulatory requirements
• Lead supplier qualification, onboarding, and certification activities, including audits, assessments, and capability evaluations
• Monitor supplier performance metrics, identify risks or trends, and drive proactive improvement strategies
• Investigate and resolve supplier-related quality issues, leading root cause analysis (8D, Red-X) and driving effective corrective and preventive actions
• Manage nonconforming material and escape management processes, partnering with suppliers to contain issues and prevent recurrence
• Support source inspection, material release, and work transfer activities, ensuring readiness for production and process changes
• Drive adoption of quality core tools (PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA) to strengthen supplier processes and long-term performance
• Lead or support supplier-facing forums such as Corrective Action Boards and DQ Clinics to ensure accountability and progress
• Ensure supplier readiness for PPAP approvals, Resourcing Gate reviews, and contractual quality requirements
• Influence suppliers and internal stakeholders to implement sustainable improvements aligned with RTX Supplier Gold and continuous improvement initiatives
• Travel up to 30% (approximately two trips per month, based on business needs)

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience
• 5+ years of experience in a supply chain, manufacturing, or supplier quality environment, including supplier monitoring, auditing, and/or development

• Experience supporting suppliers within one or more of the following commodities: composites, plastics, textiles, or interior products
• Working knowledge of quality systems, regulations, and standards (e.g., QMS, industry or regulatory requirements)
• Experience applying quality core tools and methodologies such as APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and root cause analysis (e.g., 8D, Red-X)
• Experience leading or supporting supplier quality issue resolution, including corrective and preventive action development
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with both internal teams and external suppliers, including presenting to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience influencing stakeholders and driving alignment across teams without direct authority
• Experience working in cross-functional environments, partnering with engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality teams

• 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,  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!

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.