Software Engineering Co-op (Fall/Spring 2027)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

RTX in Cedar Rapids is offering a full-time co-op/internship in Software Engineering for January–August. You will work on embedded flight-software for safety-critical avionics, contribute to AI-assisted features and real-time systems as part of the Next Generation engineering team.

You will collaborate with systems engineers and software developers, apply DO-178 standards, and gain hands-on experience with simulation and hardware-in-the-loop.

Qualifications

• Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in STEM and actively enrolled through the internship/co‑op session.
• Must have a minimum of 60 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co‑op session.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize embedded flight-software for safety-critical systems used in commercial aircraft and military platforms.
• Write high-performance, deterministic code embedded software.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineers, AI/ML specialists, and software engineers to deliver integrated avionics solutions that meet stringent aviation safety, performance, and certification requirements.
• Implement and support AI‑assisted onboard features such as intelligent sensor fusion, anomaly detection, and autonomous control logic.
• Conduct debugging and validation using simulation and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments.
• Ensure compliance with aviation safety standards such as DO-178, and adherence to secure coding and cyber‑resilience practices.

Skills

C

Python

C++

Git

DevOps

AI tools

Education

Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in STEM

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-09-08 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-107 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 107 Position Role Type: Onsite U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: The company will offer immigration sponsorship for this position, if needed. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role. Security Clearance Type: None/Not Required Security Clearance Status: Not Required

Are you ready to explore the world of aerospace and defense? Do you want to learn from and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the industry? At RTX, our internships, co-ops and full-time careers provide an exceptional foundation to work on complex problems, advance your skills and create a safer, more connected world. Discover opportunities to make a difference at RTX.

What You Will Do

Immerse yourself in a full-time, Monday-Friday co-op session, that will run January-August (including the Spring semester; it is expected students will take a semester off from coursework to fully engage with this working mentorship opportunity). As a Software Engineer Intern, you’ll leverage the latest in AI-driven development to build the precision, safety, and intelligence behind tomorrow’s commercial, business, and military Flight Decks. You won’t just be supporting technology; you’ll be shaping it—engineering avionics solutions trusted in the most demanding environments on the planet. Our Next Generation engineering team is redefining what’s possible in modern avionics, building next-generation flight technologies that push the boundaries of speed, safety, autonomy, and intelligence. From advanced flight-management software and high-performance embedded systems to intelligent sensor fusion, real-time avionics networks, and autonomous mission platforms, we design the systems that power the aircraft of the future. Our technology sits at the crossroads of aerospace, AI, and high-reliability computing—turning bold ideas into dependable systems trusted in the sky every day. We’re a team of engineers, innovators, and aviation enthusiasts who thrive on solving complex problems with elegant, high-impact solutions. Our culture blends deep technical rigor with a startup-like energy—rapid iteration, hands-on experimentation, and a passion for building things that fly. If you want to work on sleek, modern avionics products, experiment with cutting‑edge technologies, and help shape the future of intelligent flight systems, this is the place to do it.

• Develop and optimize embedded flight-software for safety-critical systems used in commercial aircraft and military platforms.
• Write high-performance, deterministic code embedded software.
• Collaborate closely with systems engineers, AI/ML specialists, and software engineers to deliver integrated avionics solutions that meet stringent aviation safety, performance, and certification requirements.
• Implement and support AI‑assisted onboard features such as intelligent sensor fusion, anomaly detection, and autonomous control logic.
• Conduct debugging and validation using simulation and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) environments.
• Ensure compliance with aviation safety standards such as DO-178, and adherence to secure coding and cyber‑resilience practices.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Must be pursuing Bachelor’s or Advanced degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and actively enrolled through the completion of the internship/co‑op session.
• Must have a minimum of 60 hours of credit by the start of the internship / co‑op session.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Prior RTX internship, co‑op, or work experience.
• Experience in high level programming languages (e.g. C, Python, C++ programming), Git, DevOps, AI tools in software development.
• An emphasis on strong collaboration and communication skills, with a desire to achieve world class abilities to work within dynamic teams to solve challenging problems.

What We Offer

Our values drive our actions, behaviors, and performance with a vision for a safer, more connected world. At RTX we value: Trust, Respect, Accountability, Collaboration, and Innovation.

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.

The salary range for this role is 37,000 USD - 82,000 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.

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.

Relocation Eligibility

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. 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.

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.