Principal Avionics Safety Engineer (Hybrid - Cedar Rapids, IA; Burnsville, MN; Bothell, WA)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

3 weeks vacation

401(k) with match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, part of RTX, seeks a Senior Safety Engineer to lead avionics safety programs in reliability, maintainability, and system safety. You will guide system safety analyses and risk assessments across hardware and software and mentor junior engineers in a cross‑functional, mission‑driven environment.

You will collaborate with global teams to shape safety strategies, influence design decisions early, and ensure compliance with ARP4761, DO‑178B/C, ARP4754A, and ARP297.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Experience in aircraft systems, hardware, or software engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead programs through ARP4761 civil safety assessment process.
• Develop and review System Safety Plans, FHAs, PSSAs, SSAs, FTAs and CMAs.
• Support hardware/software engineering in defining safety requirements.
• Analyze continued airworthiness risk for field issues.
• Mentor and train safety engineers.
• Collaborate with customers and leadership to plan safety activities.
• Be a recognized avionics safety technical expert.

Skills

ARP4761 safety process

FHAs

PSSAs

SSAs

FTA

CMAs

System Safety Plans

DO-178B/C

ARP4754A

DO-297

CAFTA

Reliability engineering basics

Technical writing/presentation

Education

University Degree

Advanced Degree

Tools

CAFTA

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-22 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-105 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 105 Position Role Type: Hybrid 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

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

Collins Aerospace is seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Safety Engineer to join our Reliability, Maintainability, and System Safety team.

In this role, you’ll help ensure that the avionics systems serving our Air Transport customers are not only cutting‑edge, but safe, reliable, and ready for the challenges of modern aviation. This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of technical rigor, cross‑functional collaboration, and mission‑driven engineering. You’ll influence system‑level design decisions, guide programs through critical safety milestones, and help build products that pilots, passengers, and operators trust every day. This role will be worked hybrid in Cedar Rapids, IA; Burnsville, MN; or Bothell, WA. Relocation assistance is available.

What You Will Do:

Lead programs through the ARP4761 civil safety assessment process, ensuring alignment with customer, internal stakeholders, and organizational leaders and Perform/peer review: System Safety Plans, Functional Hazard Assessments (FHAs), Preliminary System Safety Assessments (PSSAs), System Safety Assessments (SSAs), Fault Tree Analysis (FTAs), and Common Mode Analyses (CMAs) Support systems, hardware, and software engineering teams in defining system safety requirements during development activity Analyze continued airworthiness risk for field issues Review of design and development documentation for safety critical equipment Mentor and train less experienced safety engineers Accountable to team members and organizational leadership for committed work and responsibilities Identify and complete strategic discipline initiatives. Develop and maintain expertise in assigned areas (program, function, process, technology, etc) Collaborate with customers, stakeholders, and organizational leaders to develop plans Be a recognized technical expert in avionics safety

What You Will Learn:

Work with advanced avionics technologies used across regional jets, business aircraft, and commercial transports Shape safety and reliability strategies early in the design process—where your insights have maximum impact Collaborate across engineering disciplines and with global teams, contributing to solutions that directly affect product performance and customer confidence Become part of a highly skilled group of safety engineers known for deep expertise in Reliability, Maintainability, and System Safety Grow in a field that is challenging, unique, and constantly evolving with new aircraft architectures, regulatory expectations, and technological innovations

Qualifications You Must Have:

Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience Experience in aircraft systems, hardware, or software engineering

Qualifications We Prefer:

Experience with Computer‑Aided Fault‑Tree Analysis (CAFTA) or similar Fault Tree analysis tools Working knowledge of ARP4761 Basic knowledge of ARP4754A, DO-254, DO-178B/C, DO-297 Experience preparing and presenting technical information to peers, to all levels of internal management, and to external customers Experience coordinating projects and complex engineering activities Basic knowledge in reliability engineering theory Verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing and presenting to peers, leadership, and customers

What We Offer:

• 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
• Carrot 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!

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt&Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.