Sr Principal Systems Engineer - Avionics Network Architect (Hybrid)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Three weeks vacation

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA, is seeking a Sr Principal Systems Engineer to architect a next-generation avionics networking platform. You will shape deterministic Ethernet, TSN, and ARINC 664 integration, coordinating hardware, software, firmware, safety, and cybersecurity across multiple future aircraft programs.

You will lead architecture decisions on topology, latency, and synchronization, mentoring engineers and partnering with customers and suppliers to deliver scalable, reusable

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in avionics network architecture and deterministic networking is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of ARINC 664 Part 7 / AFDX and TSN is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect a scalable family of deterministic avionics Ethernet switches and define the technical roadmap.
• Lead hardware/software/firmware partitioning and cross-disciplinary reviews.

Skills

Avionics network architecture

Deterministic networking

Ethernet switching

VLANs & QoS

Traffic shaping

System architecture

Embedded HW/SW

ARINC 664 AFDX

TSN / IEEE 802.1

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Wireshark

Network simulators

Job description

Date Posted

2026-08-24

Country

United States of America

Location

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-131 ~ 5450 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 131

Position Role Type

Hybrid

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements

This job requires a U.S. Person. A U.S. Person is a lawful permanent resident as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or who is a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents, or individuals granted refugee or asylee status in the U.S. are considered U.S. persons. For a complete definition of “U.S. Person” go here. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-120/subpart-C/section-120.62

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.

Architect the Next Generation of Avionics Networking

The Computing Products Department (CPD) at Collins Aerospace is building a next‑generation family of safety‑critical avionics Ethernet switches—and we’re looking for a Sr Principal Systems Engineer who wants to shape the networking architecture that future aircraft will rely on for decades. This role sits at the center of systems architecture, embedded networking, silicon strategy, firmware, software, safety, and cybersecurity. If you want to help define what comes after today’s AFDX‑based networks, this is the opportunity.

What You Will Do

• Architect the Next Generation of Avionics Networking Products
• You will lead the architecture for a scalable family of deterministic avionics Ethernet switches—defining the technical roadmap, reusable building blocks, interfaces, configuration strategy, and engineering principles guiding multiple future platforms.

You’ll drive architectural decisions across:

• Port count, topology, bandwidth, latency, jitter, buffering
• Redundancy and availability strategies
• Switch silicon, processors, memory, PHY/SerDes technologies
• Copper/fiber interfaces, packaging, power, and thermal constraints
• Hardware/software/firmware partitioning and growth paths

Lead the Evolution from AFDX to Deterministic Ethernet & TSN

You will define architectures that integrate today’s ARINC 664 Part 7 / AFDX with emerging deterministic Ethernet technologies such as TSN, IEEE 802.1DP/SAE AS6675, advanced time synchronization, QoS, mixed‑criticality traffic, and network health monitoring.

Engineer Deterministic Performance

You will lead analyses to prove the architecture delivers deterministic performance:

• End‑to‑end latency, worst‑case timing, traffic flow
• Buffer/queue behaviors, packet loss, burst analysis
• Multicast load, congestion behavior
• Failure detection, network recovery timing
• Synchronization accuracy, scalability, capacity

Technical Leadership Across Disciplines

This role requires coordinating hardware, software, firmware, systems, test, safety, and cybersecurity engineering—guiding how all disciplines contribute to one coherent networking architecture. You will mentor networking engineers, shape design patterns, lead major reviews, and engage across customer, supplier, and cross‑functional teams.

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

The strongest candidates will have significant experience in several of the following areas:

• Avionics network architecture and deterministic networking
• Ethernet switching, bridging, Layer 2/3, IP networking
• VLANs, QoS, priority management, multicast
• Traffic policing/shaping, redundancy, sync
• Switch/router/NIC/gateway configuration
• Network performance analysis, packet capture, troubleshooting
• Network simulation and automated testing
• Embedded HW/SW integration
• Requirements development, system architecture, interface definition
• Integration, verification & validation, trade studies, root‑cause analysis

Qualifications We Prefer

• Particularly relevant experience includes:
• ARINC 664 Part 7 / AFDX
• IEEE 802.1 TSN, aerospace TSN (IEEE 802.1DP / SAE AS6675)
• Precision time synchronization
• Fault‑tolerant Ethernet, mixed‑criticality networking
• Gigabit/multi‑Gigabit embedded Ethernet
• Network switch ASICs, network processors, FPGA packet processing
• PHY/SerDes architecture
• Network configuration/management architectures
• Network telemetry, diagnostics, Wireshark
• Traffic‑generation and performance‑test equipment
• Hardware‑in‑the‑loop and systems integration labs
• DO‑178C, DO‑254/AC 20‑152A, ARP4754A/B, DO‑326A
• Reusable safety‑critical platform development

Benefits

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
• 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!

Hybrid

Employees who are working in Hybrid roles will work regularly both onsite and offsite. Ratio of time working onsite will be determined in partnership with your leader.

Salary

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.

Benefits Eligibility

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.

Application Window

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.

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.

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