Principal Software Engineer - Certification Focal (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 107,500 - 204,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Life insurance and disability coverage

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in the United States seeks an experienced software certification professional to oversee subcontractors and coordinate certification activities for safety-critical systems. You will lead plans, reviews, and SOIs, working with systems, hardware, and software engineers, suppliers, and program managers to ensure compliance.

The role emphasizes risk management, budgeting, scheduling, and mentoring teammates, with opportunities to contribute to training materials and knowledge

Qualifications

• A STEM degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree.
• 8+ years in the software development lifecycle.
• 5+ years handling DO-178/DO-330 certification processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide subcontractor oversight and coordination for software certification activities.
• Coordinate and contribute to certification deliverables (plans, processes, SOIs, reviews).
• Serve as primary contact for processes, plans, standards, and policies.
• Collaborate with internal/external teams including engineers and program managers.
• Manage certification activities with project management tasks (scope, cost, schedule).
• Identify and manage risks and uncertainties related to certification.
• Support software engineering activities during low certification workload.
• Present information to leaders and stakeholders; prepare for inquiries.
• Mentor team members and develop training materials for certification.

Skills

Software certification lifecycle

DO-178/DO-330 experience

Project leadership

Education

STEM degree (B.S./M.S.)

Advanced degree

Job description

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, while Collins Aerospace leads in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

What You Will Do

• Provide subcontractor oversight and coordination in support of software certification activities, including certification document reviews and audit preparation.
• Coordinate and contribute to software certification deliverables, such as authoring plans, processes, work instructions, SOI submissions, and resolving findings.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the project team regarding questions on processes, plans, standards, and policies.
• Collaborate with a wide variety of teams, including internal and external customers, systems engineers, hardware engineers, software engineers, partner suppliers, safety engineers, and program managers.
• Manage certification activities, including project management responsibilities such as bidding, estimating, tracking, and reporting on technical scope, cost, and schedule.
• Proactively identify and manage risks, opportunities, dependencies, and assumptions associated with certification aspects of the program.
• Support additional software engineering activities during periods of reduced certification workload; these may include requirements capture, design, development, integration, and verification.
• Present information effectively to internal and external leaders at various levels and anticipate potential questions.
• Mentor team members in software certification practices and champion the development of training materials and knowledge‑transfer opportunities.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typical 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.
• 8+ years of applied experience in the software development lifecycle.
• 5+ years of applied experience with the DO‑178/DO‑330 commercial certification process.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Familiarity with certification objectives defined in AC 20‑170/DO‑297.
• Familiarity with certification objectives defined in ARP‑4754.
• Experience with Collins internal certification processes and the Stages of Involvement (SOI) audit process, or equivalent.
• Experience with Collins safety, security, and quality policies and procedures, or equivalent.

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 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.
• 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!

Salary

Salary range for this role is $107,500 - $204,500 USD.

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.