Senior Principal Software Engineer - DevOps / Infrastructure (Onsite)

Prattwhitney; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Senior Principal Software Engineer - DevOps / Infrastructure for onsite work in Sterling, VA. You will lead automation, CI/CD, and infrastructure for critical simulation and training systems, requiring an active U.S. security clearance and citizenship.

Role emphasizes collaboration across teams, ensuring secure, scalable deployment in lab environments with Windows and Linux support. On-site presence is required.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree or advanced degree with years of experience.
• Active and transferable U.S. government secret security clearance required before start.

Responsibilities

• Support and develop automation solutions for efficient code build and deployment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for seamless integration and operation of software systems.
• Own the CI/CD pipeline and optimize delivery of the simulation environment.
• Troubleshoot build chain or pipeline tools and resolve issues.

Skills

CI/CD Pipelines

DevOps Principles

Cloud Infrastructure

Linux/Windows

Education

STEM degree

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Confluence

Nexus

Artifactory

Splunk

Ansible

Terraform

Puppet

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-02 Country: United States of America Location: US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Security Clearance Type: Secret - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1 Senior Principal Software Engineer - DevOps / Infrastructure (Onsite) Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a global leader providing technologically advanced and intelligent solutions across the aerospace and defense industry. We leverage our extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and deep expertise needed to tackle our customers’ most complex challenges and navigate the demands of a fast-paced global market. The Strategic Defense Solutions (SDS) portfolio is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Software Engineering professional to join our team in Sterling, VA. In this critical role, you will be part of an innovative team focused on designing and developing holistic, integrated simulation and training solutions, directly ensuring our customers are prepared for the most vital missions. This position requires an active U.S. security clearance and sole U.S. citizenship, as dual citizenship is not permitted due to the nature of the program/contract. Most aspects of the job must be accomplished in a lab environment, so this position requires regular on-site presence. This position is located onsite at our Sterling, VA site.

What You Will Do:

• Support and develop automation solutions that enable our teams to build and deploy code efficiently and consistently.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration, deployment, and operation of software systems.
• Take ownership of the program’s CI/CD pipeline, optimizing code integration and delivery of the simulation environment.
• Use troubleshooting skills to resolve issues with build chain or CI/CD pipeline tools.
• Identify manual processes that can be automated with recommendations for strategy and improvements, prior experience with automated testing as part of a CI/CD pipeline.
• Consider the organization’s entire CI/CD infrastructure when making changes and improvements.
• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, secure, and efficient infrastructure solutions to support mission-critical applications and services.
• Apply deep understanding of DevOps principles, cloud infrastructure, automation, and system reliability.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Experience deploying, configuring, and supporting CI/CD Pipelines.
• Experience with common software development and management tools such as GitLab, Jira, Confluence, Coverity, Nexus, Artifactory, and Splunk.
• Experience with automation frameworks such as Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, etc.
• Experience with server-side scripting languages such as Python, Bash, and PowerShell.
• Experience with a virtual environment such as VMware, Proxmox, etc.
• Experience with continuous integration for real-time testing and diagnostics within a virtualized environment.
• Experience with Docker/ Podman containers, or Kubernetes orchestration.
• Experience working in Linux and Windows environments.
• Experience with development IDEs such as Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, or other related.
• Experience in application development and integration within one or more IaaS/PaaS (Red Hat OpenShift / VMware / OpenStack).
• Experience with Agile Development Methodologies (e.g. Scrum, SAFe).
• Stronge understanding of networking (TCP/IP, VLANs) and experience configuring network devices or virtual networks.

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
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance is required prior to start date

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience as an Agile Product Owner skilled in guiding teams, managing backlogs, and translating business needs into technical requirements.
• Familiarity with cloud networking frameworks (L2, L3, and spine-leaf architecture).
• Experience in microservices using RESTful APIs.
• Familiarity with maintaining and deploying database technology, such as SQL and NoSQL databases like MongoDB, PostgreSQL and MonetDB.
• Familiarity with JSON, XML, YAML and XSD formats, rules, and usages.
• Experience in refactoring legacy systems for cloud or virtual environments.

Certifications:

• Security (Security+, CISSP, or equivalent); Networking (CCNA,or equivalent).
• Experience in application development and integration within one or more cloud platform services such as (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, VMware Cloud).

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

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
• Eligible for relocation assistance
• 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. 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.

#MISENG 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 145,600 USD - 276,800 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representation 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.

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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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.