Principal Hardware Design Engineer - Computing Products (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

3 weeks vacation for new hires

401(k) with employer matching

Job summary

RTX is seeking a senior electrical engineer in Cedar Rapids to design and analyze CCAs for avionics computers, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet performance and reliability targets.

You will lead schematic capture, PCB layout oversight, and EMI/thermal considerations while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced aerospace environment.

Qualifications

• Typically requires 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.
• Hands‑on troubleshooting experience
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies (CCA) for Avionics Computers (Processors, Memory, interfaces)
• Work with lab equipment for integration testing of hardware designs
• Schematic capture of digital/analog mixed signal electrical circuit designs
• Avionics I/O (Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, PCIe)
• Oversight of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout
• Design to Cost (DTC), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT)
• Mentoring and delegating tasks to less experienced engineers

Skills

STEM degree+

Hands-on troubleshooting

Communication & presentation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelors in STEM or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

PCB layout

Electrical circuit simulation

Avionics interfaces design

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-23 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-130 ~ 5350 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 130 Position Role Type: Onsite 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.

What You Will Do:

• Design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies (CCA) for Avionics Computers (Processors, Memory, interfaces)
• Work with lab equipment for integration testing of hardware designs
• Schematic capture of digital/analog mixed signal electrical circuit designs
• Avionics I/O (Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, PCIe)
• Oversight of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout
• Design to Cost (DTC), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT)
• Mentoring and delegating tasks to less experienced engineers

The selected candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including Systems, Software, Mechanical, Environmental Effects, Manufacturing/Operations, and Design-to-Cost teams, to ensure all product requirements are successfully achieved. Strong expertise in high-speed digital circuit board design, EMI control, manufacturability, testability, and thermal management is essential.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires 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
• Hands‑on troubleshooting experience
• Excellent communication and presentation skills

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Ability to work collaboratively with team members and independently on assigned tasks
• Experience in the Defense or Aerospace industry
• EMI/EMC, Lighting protection circuits and testing
• Demonstrated use of software tools for electrical circuit simulation and/or Printed Circuit Board layout
• Experience with Avionics regulatory and certification requirements: TSO, DO-160, or DO-254, MIL-STD-461
• Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and drive corrective actions

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 to 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
• 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.

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 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.