Senior Principal Project Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA, seeks a Senior Principal Project Engineer to lead Avionics software tools initiatives. You will guide design, bidding, and deployment of tools that configure avionics products and aircraft systems, driving DO-330 tool qualification and devops pipelines.

The role requires a strong software and systems background, 10+ years in project engineering, and proven leadership across medium to large teams.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
• Project engineering experience leading medium or large sized teams
• Experience in software engineering and how it applies to system architecture development
• Experience with proposal preparation and formal bidding processes

Responsibilities

• Lead design activities, bidding and execution coordination of Avionics tools in support of avionics software development and system testing
• Report on program status (schedule, budget, staffing, issues, and accomplishments) to management
• Interact and collaborate with engineering teams across Avionics and provide engineering project support to external customers when required.
• Lead design and requirements for current and next generation Avionics tools
• Provide technical leadership to the team, driving the roadmap for the group towards achieving organizational Avionics development and tool qualification needs
• Work with aircraft systems engineers and airborne software application teams to design and deliver solutions that integrate Avionics software for prototyping, implementation and testing of avionics products.
• Collaborate using project management tools and processes defined by the organization.

Skills

Team leadership

Software engineering

System architecture

Proposal management

Education

STEM degree (Bachelor’s or advanced)

Tools

DO-330 tools

Job description

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-105 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 105

Date Posted: 2026-10-08

Country: United States of America

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: This job requires a U.S. Person. A U.S. Person is a lawful permanent resident as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or who is a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee or asylee status in the U.S. are considered U.S. persons. For a complete definition of U.S. Person go here. 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

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.

Senior Principal Project Engineer

The Avionics Software Tools team is an Avionics software tools focused team, with responsibilities for Avionics Function tools, delivering tools that configure Avionics products and Integrated Modular Architecture systems tools that enable systems engineers to design and deploy aircraft systems I/O for aircraft platforms. This engineer will work in a team of software and systems engineers driving solutions for DO-330 qualified tools, simulation and infrastructure tools for multiple avionics teams. The team supports Collins Avionics Commercial and Military platforms. Our team builds cloud and desktop environments for use in dev ops pipelines, desktop deployments and external customers that enable configuration of Avionics products used on aircraft.

This role is for a strong technical leader that acts as a Product Chief for our team and will be expected to develop knowledge in multiple avionics software domains and lead technical approaches, trade studies, demonstrate project reporting skills, and represent our team in formal bids, product management reviews, and work closely with engineering management to drive projects to completion. An ideal candidate will have systems experience or training in addition to a software engineering background.

This is an onsite role in our facilities located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and due to the global nature of our business and customers, applicants to this position will be expected to collaborate with teams located in multiple geographical locations beyond North America.

What You Will Do

• Lead design activities, bidding and execution coordination of Avionics tools in support of avionics software development and system testing
• Report on program status (schedule, budget, staffing, issues, and accomplishments) to management
• Interact and collaborate with engineering teams across Avionics and provide engineering project support to external customers when required.
• Lead design and requirements for current and next generation Avionics tools
• Provide technical leadership to the team, driving the roadmap for the group towards achieving organizational Avionics development and tool qualification needs
• Work with aircraft systems engineers and airborne software application teams to design and deliver solutions that integrate Avionics software for prototyping, implementation and testing of avionics products.
• Collaborate using project management tools and processes defined by the organization.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience
• Project engineering experience leading medium or large sized teams
• Experience in software engineering and how it applies to system architecture development
• Experience with proposal preparation and formal bidding processes

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with DO-330 qualified tools used in certification of Avionics software
• Experience in both software and systems engineering
• Advanced knowledge of related disciplines within work area and ability to identify links and potential impact on projects, programs or systems.
• Experience with engineering processes and procedures, including writing requirements, design and implementation, functional and integration testing
• Familiarity with export of technical data and commodities
• Aerospace industry experience

What We Offer

Benefits

• 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 illnessinsurance, 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!

This role is eligible for relocation

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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