Principal Electrical Engineer - Hardware (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on Bonus

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Fort Wayne is seeking an experienced hardware designer to lead high-speed digital PCB development from concept through production. You will mentor engineers, optimize signal integrity, and champion design-for-manufacturability to ensure cost-effective, testable hardware.

The role requires a STEM degree with 8+ years of experience (or an advanced degree with 5+ years) and the ability to obtain a DoD clearance. Onsite work and citizenship requirements apply.

Qualifications

• End-to-end circuit card development experience from concept through production.
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFT, controlled impedance, PCB fabrication, and testing.
• Expertise in high-speed digital design for multilayer PCBs (12+ layers).
• Experience with PCB design tools: Xpedition, Allegro, or Altium.

Responsibilities

• Design high-speed digital PCBs (12+ layers) from requirements to production.
• Mentor hardware engineers on high-speed design and PCB layout best practices.
• Ensure SI/PI robustness via modeling, simulation, and hardware validation.
• Champion DTC, DFM, DFT for producible, cost-effective designs.
• Support hardware verification, testing, RCA, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Systems, Software, and Mechanical teams as the primary technical interface.

Skills

High-speed digital design

End-to-end circuit card development

PCB fabrication & DFM/DFT

SI/PI analysis

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Xpedition

Cadence Allegro

Altium Designer

HyperLynx

ADS/SPICE

Job description

Location: US-IN-FT WAYNE-150A ~ 1010 Production Rd ~ BLDG 150A. Position Role Type: Onsite. U.S. citizenship is required. The role requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued DoD security clearance (Secret).

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.

Sign-on Bonus Eligible.

What You Will Do:

• Electronic Circuit Design: Design high-speed digital Circuit Card Assemblies (CCAs) from requirements and schematic capture through PCB layout, integration, and production.
• Technical Mentoring: Mentor Hardware Engineers on high-speed digital design principles, PCB layout techniques, and hardware development best practices.
• SI/PI Optimization: Ensure robust signal and power integrity (SI/PI) via advanced modeling, simulation, and hardware validation.
• Design Optimization: Champion Design to Cost (DTC), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT) principles to ensure producible, cost-effective, and testable designs.
• Hardware Verification & Test Support: Perform hardware integration and Design Verification Testing (DVT), while providing technical support for Product Qualification Testing, factory production, and formal Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate across Systems, Software, and Mechanical Engineering teams while serving as the primary technical interface to align internal stakeholders, leadership and customers on program objectives.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Expertise in high-speed digital design for complex multilayer PCBs (12+ layers) with strong understanding of DFM/DFT, PCB fabrication, controlled impedance design, board assembly, and design verification testing.
• Demonstrated end to end circuit card development experience — from concept through production —requirements, schematic capture, layout, bring up, and integration.
• Proficiency with PCB design tools like Xpedition, Cadence Allegro, or Altium Designer.
• Hands on SI/PI analysis experience with tools such as HyperLynx, ADS, or SPICE.
• A degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Active SECRET Security Clearance or HIGHER
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate complex technical info to non‑technical stakeholders, leadership and customers.
• Advanced knowledge of high-speed protocols, such as PCIe, Ethernet, and high-speed memory interfaces
• Control Account Manager (CAM) experience with knowledge of the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) principles and practices for performing cost, schedule, and risk management for hardware development projects.
• Ability to prepare estimates, bids and proposals.
• Previous experience working in a defense or aerospace company
• Experience with Agile for Hardware Development as a Scrum Master and/or Product Owner, including planning, tracking, and managing hardware development projects in JIRA is a plus.

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 illnessinsurance, group legal, and 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
• Eligible for relocation
• And more!

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.

#MISENG

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 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.

Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms

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.