Principal Software Security Engineer - Product Owner

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Generous 401(k) with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA seeks a Senior Software Engineer to lead embedded software development for a multi-threaded C/C++ product codebase. You will serve as a Product Owner, coordinating with software, hardware, FPGA, and systems teams to deliver secure, high-assurance solutions. The role demands a U.S.

government secret clearance from day one and citizenship. You will mentor engineers, guide agile planning, and contribute to the security and reliability of critical communications

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree with 8+ years experience or advanced degree with 5+ years experience, or 12 years without a degree.
• Must maintain U.S. government-issued DOD secret security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
• Embedded C/C++ product software development experience.
• Experience with full lifecycle software development and configuration management tools.
• Knowledge of embedded security software development and integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and integration for a multi-threaded embedded C++ product codebase.
• Act as Product Owner within Agile framework, manage and prioritize backlogs.
• Support PI planning, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and Agile ceremonies.
• Collaborate with software, hardware, FPGA, and systems teams to resolve dependencies.
• Mentor engineers on software development and Agile practices.
• Enhance security and reliability of critical communications infrastructure.

Skills

Embedded C/C++

Agile / Product Owner

Software leadership

Mentoring

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

Embedded hardware / FPGA

Job description

Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137

Date Posted:

2026-10-27

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. 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

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.

Crypto Without the Coins—Come Engineer What Keeps Critical Systems Secure.

Our Crypto team in the creates cutting edge embedded cryptographic capabilities for U.S. military communications products. We regularly work with the N.S.A. to ensure our military communications are secure and trustworthy.

Our team works alongside multiple hardware, FPGA, and software teams to seamlessly embed our advanced technology into several different products, all with the end goal of keeping our warfighters safe and secure and bringing them home. This team gets to work on a wide variety of innovative products, both new and existing, so it's not your typical repetitive workload.

As a Senior Software Engineer, technical responsibilities for this position will encompass software development, technical leadership, and Product Owner responsibilities within an Agile development environment. You will contribute to key technical decisions, help establish development priorities, manage product backlogs, and support the successful execution of software development activities across multiple product lines.

Additional responsibilities include requirements definition, software design and architecture, software implementation, hardware/software integration, and requirements verification.

This position is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and requires a secret security clearance from day 1. A comprehensive relocation package is available to qualified applicants.

What YOU will do:

• Lead Software Development and Integration: Spearhead efforts on a multi-threaded embedded C++ product codebase, driving innovation and ensuring successful software development and integration.
• Drive Product Ownership and Prioritization: Serve as a Product Owner within an Agile development environment, managing and prioritizing product backlogs to align engineering efforts with program commitments, customer needs, and business objectives.
• Lead Agile Planning and Execution: Support PI Planning, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and other Agile ceremonies to establish priorities, manage dependencies, and drive predictable execution.
• Drive Project Excellence: Collaborate with cross-functional project teams to define requirements, implement software, and support test case development, verification testing, and certification activities.
• Coordinate Cross-Functional Dependencies: Work across software, hardware, FPGA, and systems engineering teams to identify technical dependencies, resolve competing priorities, and support successful program execution.
• Mentor and Empower: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to fellow software developers, enhancing technical proficiency, Agile practices, and continuous improvement.
• Enhance Security and Reliability: Play a pivotal role in developing products that strengthen the security and reliability of critical communications infrastructure.

What YOU will learn:

• Achieving Superior Results and Project Management: Strengthen your ability to deliver high-quality outcomes while managing development priorities, technical dependencies, and program milestones.
• Advanced Team Collaboration and Agile Leadership: Develop leadership skills through collaboration with engineering teams, Product Owners, program leadership, and other stakeholders to drive successful product development.
• Expertise in Systems Integration: Gain in-depth, hands-on experience integrating complex hardware and software components, enhancing technical proficiency and problem-solving capabilities.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience OR an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience OR, in the absence of a degree, 12 years of relevant experience.
• The ability to maintain a U.S. government-issued DOD secret security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.
• Software development and integration experience with embedded C and C++ product software.
• Experience with standard full lifecycle software development practices and configuration management tools.
• Knowledge and/or experience in embedded security software development and integration.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience serving as a Product Owner or technical lead within an Agile software development environment.
• Experience managing product backlogs, defining features and user stories, and establishing development priorities.
• Experience coordinating technical dependencies and priorities across multiple engineering teams or product lines.
• Cost Account Management experience.
• Capable of mentoring engineers regarding software development skills and practices.
• Ability to establish collaborative relationships and work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results, meet project milestones, and drive process improvements.
• Experience leading teams and projects through the full software development lifecycle

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 Reimbursement 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
• And more!

#MISENG

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

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.

Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

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.

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.