Principal Software Engineer - Military Flight Plan Server (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) with match

Life and disability insurance

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join the Flight Plan Server team within Military Avionics Flight Management Applications. You will work on fixed and rotary wing platforms, providing mentorship and delivering updates to flight management software and graphical flight planning systems.

The role emphasizes collaboration across agile teams, with opportunities to influence knowledge sharing and advance avionics solutions in defense aircraft

Qualifications

• STEM degree required with significant relevant experience; or an advanced degree with fewer years of experience.
• Experience designing and developing deliverable software (production or consumer facing).
• Experience with embedded software development.
• Proficiency in Ada or C/C++ and Python scripting.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for fixed and rotary wing platforms as part of the FPS engineering team.
• Mentor and guide teammates on software development best practices and solving technical challenges.
• Implement and verify updates to flight management software for fixed/rotary wings.
• Implement and verify updates to graphical flight planning/display software for aircraft.
• Communicate plans and status of stories to agile team members, stakeholders, and customers.
• Coordinate with platform engineering and other domains to track dependencies for shared features.

Skills

Ada/C/C++

Embedded software

Python scripting

Software design

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

ARINC 429/661

Ethernet (UDP/TCP)

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-24 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-182 ~ 1100 Cimmie Ave Ne ~ BLDG 182 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.

Collins Aerospace is currently seeking a Principal Software engineer to join our Flight Plan Server (FPS) team with our Military Avionics Flight Management Applications department located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The engineer that fills this role will work alongside a team of around six FPS subject matter experts that support fixed and rotary wing platforms across the entire department.

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, and Flight Plan Server (FPS). Please see the following links for more details: https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Products-and-Services/Defense/Avionics/Integrated-Cockpit-Solutions… https://www.rockwellcollins.com/Products-and-Services/Defense/Avionics/Integrated-Cockpit-Solutions…

What You Will Do:

• You will develop software for our fixed and rotary winged platforms as a member of the Graphical Flight Plan Server 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 flight management software for fixed and rotary wing platforms.
• You will implement and verify updates to the graphical flight planning and display software for fixed and rotary wing platforms.
• 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 programs through the full software development cycle, starting with proposal inputs and ending with black label production delivery.
• You will deepen your expertise in cutting‑edge avionics 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.
• Experience in the design and development of deliverable software (production or consumer facing)
• Experience with embedded software development
• Experience with Ada or C/C++
• Python scripting experience

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Defense or Aerospace industry experience
• DO-178 or similar certification‑based development experience
• Familiarity with ARINC 429 and 661 communication
• Familiarity with Ethernet protocols (UDP, TCP, etc)
• Experience with Graphical Flight Planning and/or Flight Display software
• Experience with agile software development
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, and interpersonal).

What We Offer:

Benefits:

• 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 role may be eligible for relocation.

Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible.

Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Our industry‑leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation.

Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities? If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies.

Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will work to find a way – the right way – to achieve what others can only dream of.

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.

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.

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.

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.