Senior Principal Project Engineer - Avionics Software Tools (ONSITE)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Vacation and leave benefits

401(k) plan with matching

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Pratt & Whitney in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, seeks a Senior Principal Project Engineer for its Avionics Software Tools team. The role leads tools design, DO-330 qualification, and dev-ops environments for avionics products. Strong leadership, a STEM degree, and extensive software and systems experience are required.

The position is onsite in Cedar Rapids, with collaboration across global teams and bids. The salary range reflects a high-responsibility, specialized engineering leadership role in

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.
• U.S. Person required – job requires access to ITAR or EAR information or hardware.

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.

Skills

Project leadership

Software engineering

Bid/Proposal experience

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced STEM degree

Advanced degree in related field

Tools

DO-330 tools

Job description

Job Details

Date Posted: 2026-08-19 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-105 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 105 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.

About RTX

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.

Senior Principal Project Engineer – Avionics Software Tools

We are seeking a Senior Principal Project Engineer for our Avionics Software Tools team based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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
• U.S. Person required - Job requires access to ITAR or 600/500-series EAR information or hardware (directly or indirectly) and the company will not seek an export authorization for this role.
• Project engineering experience leading medium or large sized teams
• Extensive experience in software engineering and how it applies to system architecture development
• Experience with proposal preparation and formal bidding processes
• Aerospace industry experience is required.

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

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

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.

Contract Type

Onsite

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

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.

Right To Work & Export Controls

Access to ITAR or 600/500-series EAR information or hardware (directly or indirectly). U.S. Person required. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.

Privacy Policy and Terms

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.

Application Window

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. 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.