Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer (onsite)

Prattwhitney; Fairfield (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 277,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous 401(k) plan with employer 401

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance and disability coverage

Employee Assistance Plan

Autism Benefit

Job summary

RTX's Fairfield, California site is seeking a Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead energetic materials manufacturing, process development, and transitions from prototype to full-rate production.

The role emphasizes safety, regulatory compliance, and state-of-the-art manufacturing practices. You will oversee large capital projects, develop PFMEAs and control plans, and collaborate with design, program management, safety, and quality to resolve complex manufacturing challenges.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree and minimum of 10 years of experience, or an advanced degree and a minimum of 7 years.

Responsibilities

• Leading manufacturing engineering efforts for energetic materials, components, and related processes, ensuring adherence to safety, regulatory, and facility standards.
• Serving as the technical lead for large-scale, complex capital projects, including scope development, equipment specification, process design, factory layout, installation, commissioning, and qualification.
• Providing manufacturing engineering support for New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including design-for-manufacturability, process development, prototype builds, and transitioning to low-rate and full-rate production.
• Developing and validating new manufacturing processes to ensure repeatability, capability, and alignment with quality and performance requirements.
• Leading or contributing to bid and proposal efforts, including manufacturing strategy development, cost estimation, risk identification, capital planning, and production scheduling.

Job description

Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer

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.

Location: Fairfield, California; Job Type: Onsite; U.S. citizenship required; Security clearance: None/Not Required.

What You Will Do

• Leading manufacturing engineering efforts for energetic materials, components, and related processes, ensuring adherence to safety, regulatory, and facility standards.
• Serving as the technical lead for large‑scale, complex capital projects, including scope development, equipment specification, process design, factory layout, installation, commissioning, and qualification.
• Providing manufacturing engineering support for New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, including design‑for‑manufacturability, process development, prototype builds, and transitioning to low‑rate and full‑rate production.
• Developing and validating new manufacturing processes to ensure repeatability, capability, and alignment with quality and performance requirements.
• Leading or contributing to bid and proposal efforts, including manufacturing strategy development, cost estimation, risk identification, capital planning, and production scheduling.
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams, including design engineering, program management, operations, safety, and quality, to drive technical decisions and resolve complex manufacturing challenges.
• Developing detailed process documentation, PFMEAs, control plans, and process qualifications for new or modified manufacturing systems.
• Mentoring junior and mid‑level manufacturing engineers to promote engineering excellence and knowledge of energetics manufacturing practices.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives across processes, tooling, workflow, and facility infrastructure.
• Leading failure investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action development for significant manufacturing issues.
• Representing Manufacturing Engineering in internal and external audits, customer technical reviews, and cross‑functional program meetings.
• Support business travel up to 10%.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 10 years of experience, or an advanced degree and a minimum of 7 years of experience.
• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI), including design‑for‑manufacturability, process development, and transitioning products through the full lifecycle.
• Experience managing or supporting capital projects, including equipment specification, factory layout, and process qualification.
• Experience in regulated or complex sectors such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, or semiconductor fabrication.
• Experience in high‑mix manufacturing environments.
• Experience with energetic materials and related manufacturing processes and regulations.
• Experience presenting technical content and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Experience with Advanced Automation & Robotics (e.g., FANUC, KUKA, ABB) and high‑speed vision inspection systems.
• Experience with Control Systems: PLC, SCADA systems, and distributed control architecture.
• Experience with Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0: implementing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors, predictive maintenance algorithms, and manufacturing execution systems (MES).
• Experience with PFMEA and Material Review Board (MRB) processes.

Benefits

• 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

Salary

The salary range for this role is 145,600 USD - 276,800 USD.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.