Principal Software Project Engineer - Display Products (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vacation time

401(k) plan with match

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the Display Products Department to lead software teams across all program phases. You will direct planning, execution, and sustainment while ensuring DO‑178 compliance and adherence to Collins engineering processes.

You will communicate progress and risks to stakeholders, drive certification efforts, and mentor engineers aspiring to lead, CAM, or PE roles within avionics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in STEM with 8+ years in software engineering or a related field.
• Proven ability to lead software development teams and collaborate across disciplines.
• Experience managing technical projects including schedule, EVMS, and risk.
• Track record of driving change and best practices among peers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with cross‑functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as software project engineer, directing projects across pursuit, bidding, planning, execution, and sustainment.
• Provide clear communication of progress, risks, and financial data to stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment with Collins Aerospace engineering processes and DO‑178 certification needs.
• Define development plans and lead certification efforts through audits.
• Drive software engineering best practices and guide engineers toward lead roles.
• Mentor and coach engineers to grow into CAM or PE positions.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Communication

Risk management

Decision making

Education

STEM degree with 8+ years experience

Tools

DOORS

PREP

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Principal Software Engineer – Display Products Department

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-105 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 105

What You Will Do

• Serve as the software project engineer, providing project management and technical direction throughout all program phases—pursuit, bidding, planning, execution, and sustainment—and lead engineers ranging from entry‑level to highly experienced.
• Communicate technical progress, risks, opportunities, financial information, and other project management data clearly and concisely.
• Ensure consistency with Collins Aerospace technical engineering processes.
• Define development plans, ensure compliance with DO‑178 and other certification requirements, and lead certification efforts through audits.
• Drive best practices for software teams and the execution of software projects.
• Provide guidance and coaching to engineers aspiring to grow into lead, CAM, or PE roles.

What You Will Learn

• Leadership skills: develop the ability to lead and manage software development teams, make impactful decisions, and solve complex problems.
• Certification processes: gain in‑depth knowledge of avionics regulatory and certification requirements and procedures.
• Technical expertise: deepen understanding of flight deck displays, certification, and project execution within the avionics organization.
• Exposure across organizational boundaries: learn how to meet the needs of multiple Collins organizations and navigate differing requirements and operations.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience or an advanced degree in a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to lead software development teams and work effectively with others.
• Experience managing technical projects, including schedule, earned value management, and risk management.
• Proven track record of driving change and best practices among peers.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to think critically and assess the broader impact of decisions.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Avionics experience and familiarity with regulatory and certification requirements such as TSO, MIL‑STD, DO‑160, DO‑254, DO‑178B/C, DO‑297, and APR4754A.
• Embedded C++ or platform‑level software experience.
• RTOS experience.
• Experience with tools for managing the engineering life‑cycle, such as DOORS, PREP, JIRA, and Confluence.

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for new hires.
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching and a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student loan repayment program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverages including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits.
• Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning support.
• Adoption assistance, autism benefit, and employee assistance plan with up to 10 free counseling sessions.
• Healthy You incentives, wellness rewards program, Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits, Bright Horizons childcare services, Teladoc medical experts, second opinion program, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.