Senior Principal Engineer, Project Engineering

RTX; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) with match

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Parental leave

Wellness programs

Employee assistance program

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Senior Principal Engineer – Project Engineering in Rockford, IL for a hybrid role that leads multi-year aerospace programs. You will drive schedules, budgets, and technical performance while coordinating engineering, planning, and production teams to meet contractual commitments.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in aerospace/defense, EVMS, IMS, and complex hardware programs, with security clearance eligibility and leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Degree in STEM with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in aerospace/defense hardware programs.
• Experience with EVMS and IMS scheduling.
• Experience with MS Project.
• Knowledge of mechanical systems and DFA/DFM principles.
• Security clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, multi-year engineering projects from initiation through completion.
• Establish and manage integrated schedules, budgets, and EVMS metrics.
• Align cross-functional teams to support program execution and objectives.
• Identify program risks and lead mitigation strategies.
• Support new business pursuits through planning and budgeting.

Skills

EVMS experience

IMS scheduling

MS Project

Aerospace/defense

Risk management

Mechanical design

Test automation

Security clearance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

LabVIEW

Visual Basic

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-15 Country: United States of America Location: US-IL-ROCKFORD-P1 ~ 2421 11th St ~ 2421 11TH ST-P1 Position Role Type: Hybrid U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract. Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required Security Clearance Status: Not Required

We are seeking a Senior Principal Engineer – Project Engineering to provide strategic leadership and oversee the execution of medium-to-large, multi-year aerospace engineering programs. This role drives project planning, technical execution, hardware development, testing, budget management, and program delivery while ensuring alignment with customer requirements, business objectives, and organizational priorities. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical and project leadership expertise to manage complex initiatives, mitigate risks, optimize resources, and drive cross-functional teams toward successful program outcomes.

What You Will Do

Lead complex, multi-year engineering projects from initiation through completion, ensuring alignment with program objectives, contractual requirements, schedules, budgets, and delivery commitments.

Establish and oversee integrated project schedules, budgets, and performance metrics, leveraging Earned Value Management System (EVMS) data to assess progress, identify variances, and drive informed decisions.

Align engineering, project management, planning, production, and leadership teams to support program execution, resolve complex challenges, and achieve strategic objectives.

Proactively identify program risks, evaluate potential impacts, and lead mitigation and corrective action strategies to protect cost, schedule, quality, and technical performance.

Drive cost efficiency, resource optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project performance and business profitability.

Oversee hardware development, configuration control, equipment modifications, engineering documentation, and design release activities throughout the product lifecycle.

Provide oversight of engineering test activities, including test planning, procedure development, results analysis, and verification of product and customer requirements.

Lead project reviews, monitor program performance, ensure adherence to engineering standards and processes, and establish best practices to improve execution and operational effectiveness.

Support new business pursuits through project planning, technical execution strategies, schedule development, and budget estimation.

Present program status, risks, financial performance, and strategic recommendations to engineering leadership and key stakeholders to facilitate alignment and decision-making.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) unless prohibited by local laws/regulations and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.


• Experience in the aerospace or defense industry, particularly with aerospace test equipment, high-performance engine systems, or complex hardware programs.


• Experience with project scheduling, budgeting, and Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), including management of project budgets exceeding 10 million.


• Experience developing and managing Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) using Microsoft Project.


• Knowledge of mechanical systems, including gearing, motion control, rotational mechanics, and mechanical design principles.


• Understanding of engineering materials, manufacturing processes, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.


• Experience with mechanical systems integration in aerospace or defense applications.


• Familiarity with test planning, execution, and reporting processes.


• Experience with LabVIEW, Visual Basic, or similar programming and test automation tools.


• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

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!

Company Overview

We make modern flight possible for millions of travelers and our military every second. Our major product lines are on-board virtually every aircraft flying. Be it keeping passengers safe with our emergency power generation systems or creating a positive in flight experience through reliable cabin pressure controls and quieter engines, Power & Controls focuses on delivering a best-in-class experience to our customers. We hire the top people in the industry. Their ideas drive our performance, and their integrity keeps our customers happy. Join us as we take flight!

*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.

Hybrid: Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. Ratio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.

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.

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 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.