Principal Software Engineer - Fixed Wing Military FMS (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join its Flight Management Applications team in Cedar Rapids. This role involves software development for military avionics systems, mentorship, and collaboration with engineering teams. Ideal candidates will have a STEM degree and robust experience in software design, particularly in C/C++ and Ada.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement program

Generous vacation policy

Employee Assistance Plan

Flexible spending accounts

Qualifications

• Typically requires 8 years prior relevant experience or 5 years with an Advanced Degree.
• Proven experience in design and development of software in a production environment.
• Experience with software development lifecycle processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for fixed-wing platforms as part of the Flight Management Applications team.
• Provide mentorship in software development best practices.
• Implement updates to navigation software for key military platforms.

Skills

Communication

Team Collaboration

Ada

C/C++

Python

Education

Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)

Advanced Degree in a related field

Job description

Principal Software Engineer - Fixed Wing Military FMS (Onsite)

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Location:

HIA32: Cedar Rapids, IA 400 Collins Rd NE , Cedar Rapids, IA, 52498-0505 USA

Date Posted:

2025-06-26

Country:

United States of America

Location:

HIA32: Cedar Rapids, IA 400 Collins Rd NE , Cedar Rapids, IA, 52498-0505 USA

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:

None/Not Required

Collins Aerospace is seeking a qualified candidate for a Principal Software Engineer to join our development team for Flight Management Application content for Fixed Wing aircraft within our Military Avionics & Helicopters Flight Management Applications department, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The engineer that fills this role will initially work primarily on our C-130 and E-2D platforms.

Product Summary:

CAAS/Flight 2 Flight Management Solutions - Our signature products for Military Avionics and Helicopters as part of the Collins Integrated Avionics Systems, fielded on thousands of aircraft today, at this moment. Specific capabilities include FMS (Flight Management Systems), Performance Application, System Manager, Comm, Flight Director, and Flight Controls. Please see the following links for more details:

https://www.collinsaerospace.com/what-we-do/industries/helicopters/rotary-wing/common-avionics-architecture-system

https://www.collinsaerospace.com/what-we-do/industries/military-and-defense/avionics/integrated-cockpit-solutions/flight2

What You Will Do:

• You will develop software for our fixed winged platforms as a member of the Flight Management Applications engineering team.
• You will provide mentorship and guidance to other members of the development team in software development best practices and how to solve our hardest technical challenges.
• You will implement and verify updates to the navigation software for C-130 and E-2D Avionics.
• You will communicate plans and status on your assigned stories to your agile team members, internal stakeholders, and external customers.
• You will coordinate with the platform engineering team and other software domain teams to identify and track dependencies for shared features.
• You will champion knowledge sharing, elevating department expertise through both formal training and informal mentoring.
  
  

What You Will Learn:

• You will take a program through the full software development cycle, starting with contract award and ending in black label delivery.
• You will deepen your expertise in cutting-edge avionic systems, positioning you as a subject matter expert in military software applications.
• You will expand your impact on the field of avionics, contributing to software solutions that increase the operational capabilities of aircraft worldwide.
  
  

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.
• Proven experience in the design and development of deliverable software, ideally within a production or consumer-facing environment.
• Strong foundation in communication skills and team collaboration.
• Ada or C/C++ Experience.
• Experience with DO-178 or similar certification-based development processes.
• Familiarity with Python scripting.
  
  

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience in developing avionics displays and/or Flight Management Systems (FMS).
• AGILE development methodology experience.
  
  

What We Offer:

Benefits:

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
• And more!
  
  

This position may be eligible for relocation to Cedar Rapids.

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today.

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.

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.

The salary range for this role is 101,000 USD - 203,000 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

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Collins Aerospace by 2x

Senior Software Engineer - Military Avionics FMS (Onsite)

Cedar Rapids, IA $82,000 - $164,000 1 week ago

Sr Engineering Manager- C4IA Crypto Software – Active Secret (Onsite)

Lead Full Stack .NET Software Engineer (Philadelphia or Cedar Rapids)

Cedar Rapids, IA $120,000 - $135,000 13 hours ago

Principal Software Engineer - Secure Platform Software (Onsite)

Cedar Rapids, IA $101,000 - $203,000 2 weeks ago

Cedar Rapids, IA $82,000 - $164,000 3 days ago

Senior Software Engineer – Embedded Cybersecurity (Onsite)

Principal Software Engineer - Embedded Cybersecurity (Onsite)

Senior Principal Software Engineer - Embedded Communications - Active SECRET Clearance (Onsite)

DevSecOps Senior Software Engineer (Onsite)

Principal Security Software Engineer (Onsite)

Senior Software Engineer - Embedded Communications - Active SECRET Clearance (Onsite)

Senior Software Engineer - Embedded Communications - Active SECRET Clearance (Onsite)

Principal Software Engineer - Embedded Communications - Active SECRET Clearance (Onsite)

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.