Sr Principal Hardware Design Engineer (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

3 weeks vacation

401(k) with match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace seeks a Senior Principal Electrical Engineer in Cedar Rapids, IA, to lead hardware development for avionics modules, including ruggedized computers and video processing units. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet requirements across design, test, and manufacturing stages.

The role emphasizes high-speed digital design, EMI control, and Do-254/DO-160 compliance, with onsite work in Cedar Rapids and opportunities to shape the computing products portfolio.

Qualifications

• Typically requires STEM degree and 8+ years of experience or an advanced degree with 5+ years.
• Hands-on troubleshooting experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead LRU development through all design phases.
• Oversee PCB layout and circuit card analysis.
• Lead EMI/ENV qualification for LRUs.

Skills

High-speed digital design

EMI control

Troubleshooting

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

PCB layout tools

Circuit simulation software

Avionics test equipment

Job description

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-130 ~ 5350 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 130

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Country: United States of America

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-130 ~ 5350 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 130

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.

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Principal Electrical Engineer to join the Computing Products Department within the Displays, Controls, Computing & Networking Engineering (DCCN) directorate. This department is responsible for the development and sustainment of state-of-the-art avionics hardware products including ruggedized mission computers, video processing modules, and network products used in commercial and military aircraft platforms. This role is onsite, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

This role supports all phases of the hardware development lifecycle—program pursuit, design, integration, verification, and factory transition and will play a key part in development of the computing modules product line and our air vehicle computers.

The selected candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including Systems, Software, Mechanical, Environmental Effects, Manufacturing/Operations, and Design-to-Cost teams, to ensure all product requirements are successfully achieved. Strong expertise in high-speed digital circuit board design, EMI control, manufacturability, testability, and thermal management is essential.

What You Will Do

• Lead LRU Development through all phases of design cycle
• Design and analyze Circuit Card Assemblies (CCA) for Avionics Computers (Processors, Memory, interfaces)
• Work with lab equipment for integration testing of hardware designs
• Schematic capture of complex digital/analog mixed signal electrical circuit designs
• Oversight of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout
• Design to Cost (DTC), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT)
• Mentoring and delegating tasks to less experienced engineers
• Lead EMI and ENV qualification efforts of complex Line Replaceable Units (LRU)

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience
• Hands-on troubleshooting experience
• Experience with Avionics I/O (Ethernet, ARINC 429, MIL-STD 1553, PCIe)
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members and independently on assigned tasks
• Demonstrated ability to lead root cause analysis and drive corrective actions

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience in the Defense or Aerospace industry
• EMI/EMC, Lighting protection circuits and testing concepts and design
• Demonstrated use of software tools for electrical circuit simulation and/or Printed Circuit Board layout
• Experience with Avionics regulatory and certification requirements: TSO, DO-160, or DO-254, MIL-STD-461
• Demonstrated ability to perform root cause analysis and drive corrective actions

What We Offer

Some of our competitive benefits package includes:

• 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!

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.

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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