Principal Software Engineer - DevOps / Infrastructure (Onsite)

RTX; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Principal Software Engineer to lead DevOps and infrastructure for on-site work in Sterling, VA. You will automate build, test, and deployment processes, optimize the CI/CD pipeline, and mentor peers to deliver reliable simulation environments for critical missions.

The role requires an active U.S. security clearance (Secret) and hands-on experience with Linux/Windows, cloud and virtualization tech, and modern automation tools.

Qualifications

• Active and transferable U.S. government secret clearance is required prior to start.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience with STEM degree or 5+ years with an advanced degree.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Own and optimize the program's CI/CD pipeline for the simulation environment.
• Develop and automate build, test, and deployment processes.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues in the CI/CD chain and tooling stack.
• Mentor engineers and drive innovative DevOps solutions.
• Collaborate with program leaders to improve automation strategy and outcomes.

Skills

CI/CD pipelines

Problem solving

Communication

Relationship building

GitLab

Jira

Confluence

Coverity

Nexus

Artifactory

Splunk

Ansible

Terraform

Puppet

Python

Bash

PowerShell

VMware

Proxmox

OpenShift

RESTful APIs

Agile

Docker

Kubernetes

Linux

Windows

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Confluence

Coverity

Nexus

Artifactory

Splunk

Ansible

Terraform

Puppet

Python

Bash

PowerShell

VMware

Proxmox

OpenShift

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-07-01

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

Secret - Current

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

Principal Software Engineer - DevOps / Infrastructure (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a global leader providing technologically advanced and intelligent solutions across the aerospace and defense industry. We leverage our extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and deep expertise needed to tackle our customers’ most complex challenges and navigate the demands of a fast-paced global market.

The Strategic Defense Solutions (SDS) portfolio is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Software Engineering professional to join our team in Sterling, VA. In this critical role, you will be part of an innovative team focused on designing and developing holistic, integrated simulation and training solutions, directly ensuring our customers are prepared for the most vital missions.

This position requires an active US security clearance.Most aspects of the job must be accomplished in a lab environment, so this position requires regular on-site presence. This position is located onsite at our Sterling, VA site.

What You Will Do:

• Support and develop automation solutions that enable our teams to build and deploy code efficiently and consistently.
• Take ownership of the program’s CI/CD pipeline, optimizing code integration and delivery of the simulation environment.
• Use troubleshooting skills to resolve issues with build chain or CI/CD pipeline tools.
• Identify manual processes that can be automated with recommendations for strategy and improvements, prior experience with automated testing as part of a CI/CD pipeline.
• Consider the organization’s entire CI/CD infrastructure when making changes and improvements.
• Mentor other engineers and solve critical technical problems with innovative solutions.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience deploying, configuring, and supporting CI/CD Pipelines.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify issues quickly and develop effective solutions.
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with program leaders and contributors.
• Experience with common software development and management tools such as GitLab, Jira, Confluence, Coverity, Nexus, Artifactory, and Splunk.
• Experience with automation frameworks such as Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, etc.
• Experience with server-side scripting languages such as Python, Bash, and PowerShell.
• Experience with a virtual environment such as VMware, Proxmox, etc.
• Experience with continuous integration for real-time testing and diagnostics within a virtualized environment.
• Basic understanding of networking (TCP/IP, VLANs) and experience configuring network devices or virtual networks.

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
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance or higher is required prior to start date.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience in application development and integration within one or more IaaS/PaaS (Red
• Hat OpenShift / VMware / OpenStack).
• Familiarity with cloud networking frameworks (L2, L3, and spine-leaf architecture).
• Experience in microservices using RESTful APIs.
• Experience with Agile Development Methodologies (e.g. Scrum, SAFe).
• Familiarity with Docker/ Podman containers, or Kubernetes orchestration.
• Familiarity with maintaining and deploying database technology, such as SQL and NoSQL databases like MongoDB, PostgreSQL and MonetDB.
• Familiarity with JSON, XML, YAML and XSD formats, rules, and usages.
• Experience working in Linux and Windows environments.
• Experience in refactoring legacy systems for cloud or virtual environments.
• Development IDEs such as Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, or other related.
• Certifications: Security (Security+, CISSP, or equivalent); Networking (CCNA,or equivalent).
• Experience in application development and integration within one or more cloud platform services such as (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, VMware Cloud).

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.

What We Offer:

Some of our competitive benefits package includes:

• 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, 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 assistance
• And more!

The salary range for this role is 118,300 USD - 224,900 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.

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.