Senior Principal Engineer - Foundation Software (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 132,400 - 251,600; 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

Teladoc Medical Experts

Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking an experienced engineer to define the architecture and roadmap for PCU firmware and low‑level platform software in a U.S.-based role. You will lead secure boot, hardware root‑of‑trust, key provisioning, and platform trust mechanisms while guiding bring‑up, BSP development, driver bring‑up, and hardware validation.

You will provide technical leadership to embedded software, security, and hardware engineers, collaborating with hardware teams to shape processor

Qualifications

• Knowledge of secure boot design, bootloader architecture, cryptographic trust models, and hardware security modules.
• Extensive experience with embedded systems, firmware development, and low‑level platform software.
• Hands‑on experience with hardware board bring‑up, processor initialization, and debugging tools (JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes).
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and low‑level software development, including register‑level programming.
• Deep understanding of processor architectures, SoC subsystems, memory interfaces, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Experience leading engineering teams, providing architectural direction, and driving complex multi‑disciplinary tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Typically requires a degree in STEM and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience; alternatively an Advanced Degree and minimum 7 years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Define the architecture, requirements, and technical roadmap for PCU firmware and low‑level platform software.
• Lead a team through the design and implementation of secure boot, hardware root‑of‑trust, key provisioning, and platform trust mechanisms.
• Guide bring‑up efforts for the processing platform, including bootloader initialization, BSP development, driver bring‑up, and hardware validation.
• Provide technical leadership to a team of embedded software, security, and hardware‑interface engineers.
• Collaborate closely with hardware designers to define processor initialization flows, power management states, and silicon interaction models.
• Participate in the development and review of threat modeling, security reviews, and architectural risk assessments for platform boot and control paths.
• Drive debugging and root‑cause analysis of complex hardware‑software interactions.
• Oversee integration of PCU firmware with system software, OS, and higher‑level platform components.
• Help to establish coding standards, design best practices, and documentation for platform and security software.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for internal and external partners and vendors.
• Mentor engineering teams and set technical direction for platform security.

Skills

Secure boot design

Embedded systems

C/C++

Hardware security

Leadership

Technical communication

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

JTAG

Logic analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-131 ~ 5450 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 131

Date Posted: 2026-07-08

Country: United States of America

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Person Requirement: This job requires a U.S. Person. A U.S. Person is a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) and 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Full definition available at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-120/subpart-C/section-120.62

Security Clearance Type: None / Not Required

Security Clearance Status: Not Required

What You Will Do

• Define the architecture, requirements, and technical roadmap for PCU firmware and low‑level platform software
• Lead a team through the design and implementation of secure boot, hardware root‑of‑trust, key provisioning, and platform trust mechanisms
• Guide bring‑up efforts for the processing platform, including bootloader initialization, BSP development, driver bring‑up, and hardware validation
• Provide technical leadership to a team of embedded software, security, and hardware‑interface engineers
• Collaborate closely with hardware designers to define processor initialization flows, power management states, and silicon interaction models
• Participate in the development and review of threat modeling, security reviews, and architectural risk assessments for platform boot and control paths
• Drive debugging and root‑cause analysis of complex hardware‑software interactions
• Oversee integration of PCU firmware with system software, OS, and higher‑level platform components
• Help to establish coding standards, design best practices, and documentation for platform and security software
• Serve as a technical point of contact for internal and external partners and vendors
• Mentor engineering teams and set technical direction for platform security

Qualifications You Must Have

• Knowledge of secure boot design, bootloader architecture, cryptographic trust models, and hardware security modules
• Extensive experience with embedded systems, firmware development, and low‑level platform software
• Hands‑on experience with hardware board bring‑up, processor initialization, and debugging tools (JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.)
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and low‑level software development, including register‑level programming
• Deep understanding of processor architectures, SoC subsystems, memory interfaces, and hardware abstraction layers
• Experience leading engineering teams, providing architectural direction, and driving complex multi‑disciplinary tasks
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Typically requires a degree in STEM and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience; alternatively an Advanced Degree and minimum 7 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with ARM TrustZone, TPM, TEE, or equivalent secure processing technologies
• Familiarity with Linux kernel, RTOS bring‑up, and U‑Boot or custom bootloaders
• Experience with security certification, compliance, or platform hardening methodologies
• Background in safety‑critical or mission‑critical embedded systems

Salary Range: 132,400 USD – 251,600 USD

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional additional coverages: 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 benefits
• 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!

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 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.