Principal Stress Engineer, Aftermarket

Prattwhitney; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) match

Relocation assistance

Life insurance

Job summary

RTX in California is seeking a Principal Stress Engineer, Aftermarket, to act as an expert in nacelle repair design and structural analysis. You will guide cross‑functional teams, support airline customers on complex technical issues, and mentor engineers across the organization.

This onsite role in Chula Vista requires strong leadership, experience with metallic/composite structures, and proficiency in Patran/Nastran.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future.
• Experience with repair analysis of aircraft metallic and/or composite structures.
• Experience with maintenance, repair, overhaul, and regulatory requirements in the commercial aircraft industry.
• Experience of load path, load balance, free body diagram and experience in classical hand analysis methods used in Aerospace structural analysis.
• Experience in finite element analysis of aircraft structure using Patran/Nastran (soln's 101, 106, 111).
• Experience with technical writing Qualifications

Responsibilities

• Perform repair stress analysis and develop analytical methods for complex technical issues requiring creativity and ingenuity to support airline operational requirements, formal certification reports, and design changes.
• Ability to make quick engineering judgments and perform margins exploration analysis for repair solutions based on certification analysis, on various nacelle components for different programs.
• Apply advanced structural analysis principles to support repair design development on metallic and composite structures.
• Prepare RDAS/8110-3 documents including substantiating analysis and obtain/coordinate sign-off with Airworthiness organization.
• Direct communication with Airline customers for rapid development and approval of technical solutions.
• Mentor other engineers and lead teams in the generation of standard work for repair development.
• Collaborate with all levels of maintenance, engineering, and management personnel.
• Positively interact in a team environment with good listening and verbal communication skills.
• Represent Company in technical review meetings.
• Possess excellent customer relations skills.
• Communicate and make presentations to internal and external customers and be driven to achieve customer satisfaction.
• Serve as the key point of contact for internal and external customers on complex technical issues.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Technical communication

Problem solving

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Patran/Nastran

NASGRO

CATIA V

FiberSim

Excel

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-11-10 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-CHULA VISTA-B107 ~ 850 Lagoon Dr ~ BLDG 107, Mail Zone 1-C Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role. 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.

We are seeking a Principal Stress Engineer, Aftermarket. In this technical role, you will serve as an expert in nacelle repair design and structural analysis, providing rapid, compliant engineering solutions that minimize aircraft downtime on all Collins Aerostructures commercial nacelle hardware that are compliant with certified type design and airworthiness (FAA/EASA) requirements. You will guide cross‑functional teams, support airline customers on complex technical issues, improve engineering processes, and mentor engineers across the organization.

This position requires deep technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and the ability to make timely engineering decisions in a fast‑paced customer‑support environment. This position will be onsite in Chula Vista, CA. May be required to work weekends and holidays in rotation, as needed.

What You Will Do:

• Perform repair stress analysis and develop analytical methods for complex technical issues requiring creativity and ingenuity to support airline operational requirements, formal certification reports, and design changes.
• Ability to make quick engineering judgments and perform margins exploration analysis for repair solutions based on certification analysis, on various nacelle components for different programs.
• Apply advanced structural analysis principles to support repair design development on metallic and composite structures.
• Prepare RDAS/8110-3 documents including substantiating analysis and obtain/coordinate sign-off with Airworthiness organization.
• Direct communication with Airline customers for rapid development and approval of technical solutions.
• Mentor other engineers and lead teams in the generation of standard work for repair development.
• Collaborate with all levels of maintenance, engineering, and management personnel.
• Positively interact in a team environment with good listening and verbal communication skills.
• Represent Company in technical review meetings.
• Possess excellent customer relations skills.
• Communicate and make presentations to internal and external customers and be driven to achieve customer satisfaction.
• Serve as the key point of contact for internal and external customers on complex technical issues.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company’s immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.
• Experience with repair analysis of aircraft metallic and/or composite structures.
• Experience with maintenance, repair, overhaul, and regulatory requirements in the commercial aircraft industry.
• Experience of load path, load balance, free body diagram and experience in classical hand analysis methods used in Aerospace structural analysis.
• Experience in finite element analysis of aircraft structure using Patran/Nastran (soln's 101, 106, 111).
• Experience with technical writing Qualifications

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience in MS Office Suite: Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience in MRB and MRO repairs preferred.
• Knowledge in Automation (Excel VBA & Visual Basic applications) highly desired.
• Composite nacelle and exhaust repair experience.
• Basic CATIA V and FiberSim skills desirable.
• Detailed understanding of nacelle systems desirable.
• Familiarity on specialty manufacturing processes for aerospace components.
• Experience in industry-standard structural analysis tools, including PATRAN/NASTRANand NASGRO or other crack-growth analysis tools.
• Experience performing fatigue and damage tolerance substantiation of Metallic structures.
• Proven ability to manage complex technical issues and deliver timely customer-focused solutions.
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentorship skills.

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 illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Carrot Health to hormonal health, fertility, and family building
• 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!
• May be eligible for relocation

Our Advanced Structures team leverages advanced materials and additive manufacturing to develop complex interior and exterior solutions. These solutions ensure structural integrity of the aircraft, help aircraft take off and land, stay trim in the air, move forward, carry cargo and conduct rescues. We delight our customers with superior products and best-in-class service. Our global team is committed to continuous improvement – we work hard to make our solutions lighter‑weight, stronger and more technically advanced, so that plane travel can be safer, more affordable and more sustainable in the years to come. We are looking for the best and brightest to fly and land with us!

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.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in‑person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on‑site, hybrid or remote.

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.

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.