Principal Systems Engineer-Actuation Systems(Onsite)

RTX Corporation; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation for newly hire

401(k) plan with company matching

Job summary

RTX Corporation's Collins Aerospace in Winston-Salem, NC, seeks a Principal Systems Engineer to lead the design, development and integration of electromechanical actuation systems for aerospace applications.

You will own system architecture, manage cross-functional requirements, perform trade studies, and drive V&V strategies to ensure DO‑160/DO‑178 and ARP4754A/ARP4761 compliance. Mentoring engineers and coordinating with suppliers enabled certification and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 8+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree with 5+ years of experience.
• Experience in systems engineering, including architecture, requirements management, and system integration.
• Experience with electromechanical actuators, power electronics, and aircraft interfaces.
• Experience with verification and validation, MBSE tools, and requirements management.

Responsibilities

• Lead system architecture for electromechanical actuation, including mechanics, drive electronics, power distribution, and lighting-control interfaces.
• Define and manage system-level requirements across mechanical, electrical, software, and electronic subsystems.
• Conduct system trade studies covering motor sizing, electrical loads, thermal, and EMC.
• Oversee FHA, FMEA, SSA activities to ensure safety and reliability.
• Develop program schedules and ensure integration of actuation hardware and power systems.
• Define and execute V&V strategies compliant with DO‑160, DO‑178, ARP4754A/ARP4761.
• Engage suppliers and customers for technical discussions and certification.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering-process improvements.]

Skills

Systems engineering

Actuation systems

MBSE tools

Requirements management

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

Cameo MBSE

Polarion

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-19 Country: United States of America Location: US-NC-WINSTON SALEM-961 ~ 961 Pinebrook Knolls Dr ~ PINEBROOK 961

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 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.

The Principal Systems Engineer will play a critical role in the design, development, and integration of advanced electromechanical actuation systems for aerospace applications. This position focuses on ensuring the safety, reliability, and performance of actuation systems while driving cross-functional collaboration and mentoring engineering teams.

What You Will Do:

• Lead system architecture development for electromechanical actuation systems, including actuator mechanics, drive electronics, power distribution, and lighting-control interfaces.


• Define, allocate, and manage system-level requirements across mechanical, electrical, software, and electronic subsystems.


• Conduct and review system-level trade studies, including motor/gear sizing, electrical load impacts, actuator dynamics, thermal considerations, and EMC requirements.


• Oversee system safety and reliability engineering activities, including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and System Safety Assessments (SSA).


• Develop and align program schedules across cross-functional teams, addressing technical conflicts and ensuring integration of actuation hardware, power electronics, and lighting-control systems.


• Define and execute system-level verification and validation (V&V) strategies, ensuring compliance with DO‑160, DO‑178, ARP4754A/ARP4761, and other relevant standards.


• Engage with suppliers and customers to lead technical discussions, design reviews, and certification activities.


• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of engineering processes and organizational capabilities.

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 systems engineering, including systems architecture, requirements management, and system integration.


• Experience with electromechanical actuators, power electronics, and aircraft systems such as avionics or electrical interfaces.


• Experience with system verification and validation, including the use of tools such as Cameo for Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Polarion for requirements management.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with electromechanical actuation systems, including motor control, dynamic behavior analysis, and feedback sensor integration.


• Familiarity with power supply systems, converters, distribution modules, and lighting-control electronics, including LED drivers and dimming requirements.


• Knowledge of industry standards such as DO‑160, DO‑178, ARP4754A/ARP4761, and ARP5526.

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!

At Collins Aerospace, our Interiors team is focused on innovation, safety and cost efficiency. But we don’t just get people from point A to point B. We’re committed to making air travel more comfortable, connected and secure. As a leader in aviation interior products and services, we’re helping airlines and original equipment manufacturers create a positive experience for their customers. With offices and manufacturing facilities in more than 12 states across the U.S. and more than 10 countries around the globe, we’re changing the game of aircraft interiors.

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. Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings. 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 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.

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.