Senior Principal Software Engineer and Certification Focal - Display Products (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Vacation

Job summary

COLLINS AEROSPACE in Cedar Rapids, IA, is seeking a Sr. Principal Software Engineer to design, develop, and verify display software for safety-critical avionics across bare-metal and RTOS platforms. You will lead certification efforts and provide technical guidance within the Display Products Department.

Join a collaborative team shaping the future of avionics. This onsite role offers leadership opportunities, exposure to DO-178 and DO-330 processes, and growth across Collins' avionics programs

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 10+ years prior experience, or an Advanced Degree.
• Embedded C++, bare-metal, BSP or platform-level software experience.
• RTOS experience such as LynxOS, VxWorks, or Green Hills.
• Experience certifying software to DO-178 B/C Levels A or B.
• Experience qualifying software tools to DO-330.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, including critical thinking and impact awareness.
• Demonstrated leadership with strong communication, coaching and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to drive changes and best practices across peers.
• Experience identifying and managing risks and opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead certification efforts through DO-178 audits.
• Provide technical leadership to software teams and drive high‑quality solutions with architectural input.
• Coach engineers looking to grow their software skills.
• Ensure consistency with Collins Aerospace engineering processes.
• Drive best practices to software teams and project execution.
• Communicate progress, risks and opportunities clearly and concisely.

Skills

Embedded C++

Bare-metal

BSP

RTOS LynxOS

RTOS VxWorks

RTOS Green Hills

DO-178 certification

DO-330

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Team coaching

Problem solving

Stakeholder communication

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

DOORS

PREP

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

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: 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

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.

Are you ready to join a dynamic team in Cedar Rapids, IA, working on cutting-edge Avionics displays for safety‑critical commercial and military applications? As a Sr. Pr. Software Engineer in our Display Products Department, you will design, develop, and verify innovative display software solutions across multiple platforms, including bare metal applications and RTOS environments. Your work will contribute to the safety and efficiency of Avionics systems, making a significant impact on the industry.

Joining our team means being part of a collaborative and supportive environment, where your technical expertise and problem‑solving skills will be highly valued. This role offers the opportunity to work on challenging projects, gain exposure to industry‑leading technologies, and grow your career with a leader in Avionics solutions.

Relocation assistance may be available for this position.

What YOU Will Do:

• Ensure Certification Compliance: You will help define development plans, ensure compliance with DO-178 and other certification requirements, and lead certification efforts through audits.
• Lead Technical Solutions: You will provide technical leadership to software teams and drive high‑quality solutions with technical expertise and architectural inputs.
• Provide Guidance: You will provide guidance and coaching to engineers looking to grow their software skills.
• Ensure Consistency: You will ensure consistency with Collins Aerospace technical engineering processes.
• Drive Best Practices: You will drive best practices to software teams and execution of software projects.
• Communicate Effectively: You will communicate technical progress, risks, and opportunities clearly and concisely.

What YOU Will Learn:

• Certification Processes: You will increase your experience with Avionics regulatory and certification requirements and processes.
• Domain and Technical Expertise: You will enhance your understanding of flight deck displays, certification, and project execution within the Avionics organization.
• Leadership Skills: You will develop your ability to lead software efforts, making impactful decisions and solving complex problems.
• Exposure Across Organizational Boundaries: You will learn how we meet the needs of multiple Collins organizations and the differences in requirements and operations between these channels.

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
• Embedded C++, bare-metal application, BSP, or platform-level software experience
• RTOS experience such as LynxOS, VxWorks, or Green Hills
• Experience certifying software packages to DO-178 B/C Levels A or B
• Experience qualifying software tools to DO-330
• Excellent problem‑solving and decision‑making skills, including the ability to think critically and understand the impact of decisions beyond the boundaries of the immediate problem.
• Demonstrated success as a leader, including strong communication skills, coaching skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated the ability to drive changes and best practices to peers.
• Experience identifying and managing risks and opportunities.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with graphics applications utilizing APIs such as OpenGL, Vulkan, or A661
• Experience with flight deck displays
• Experience using tools to manage engineering life‑cycle data, such as DOORS, PREP, JIRA, and Confluence
• Additional experience with Avionics regulatory and certification requirements and processes such as TSO, MIL‑STD, DO-160, DO-254, DO-297, and APR4754A.

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!

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.

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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