Principal Software Engineer - Advanced System Tools (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-11-12

 Country:

United States of America

 Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-124 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 124

 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.

Design the Foundation of Next-Generation Avionics

Join a dynamic and expanding Product Line Software team at Collins Aerospace, where you will play a key role in shaping the foundation of future airborne software capabilities and solutions. We are seeking a Principal Software Engineer who thrives on solving complex technical challenges and driving high-impact solutions across safety-critical systems. We have opportunities in one of our two departments:

• Core Services & Libraries, dedicated to creating versatile frameworks that enable highly adaptable and portable software solutions, agnostic of hardware or software configurations.
• Advanced Systems Tools, driving a development eco-system (development kits, virtual rigs, and test rigs) enabling the development, integration, verification, and configuration of avionic products and platforms.

In this role, you will lead the architecture and development of core software components, libraries, rigs and tools that enable scalable, certifiable avionics platforms. You’ll work across the full software lifecycle, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions aligned with civil and military certification standards.

This is a unique opportunity to influence system-level design, advance open architecture initiatives, and contribute to technologies that define the future of aerospace.

What You Will Do

• Lead the architecture and design of core software components, libraries, and tooling aligned to avionics system requirements.
• Work with technical direction and execution across development and verification activities for safety-critical software (DO-178, DO-254, and/or DO-330).
• Develop and manage software requirements, ensuring proper decomposition and traceability across complex systems of systems.
• Develop and verify software using modern C++ and object-oriented design principles.
• Own and produce certification artifacts, including DAL-A deliverables.
• Lead and support certification efforts, including engagement with customers and regulatory authorities.
• Conduct and contribute to peer reviews to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance across the lifecycle.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, program leadership, and customers to align technical solutions with program objectives.
• Willing and Able to travel as required (domestic and international <10%).

What You Will Learn:

• Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of avionics and aerospace systems.
• Build end-to-end expertise across the full product lifecycle, from requirements and design through verification and delivery of safety-critical systems.
• Develop a deep understanding of civil certification (DO-178, DO-254, and/or DO-330) and how world-class avionics products meet rigorous regulatory standards.
• Learn how to design, scale, and sustain software product lines that support a wide range of platforms and global customers.

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.
• Experience designing and developing software architecture, libraries, or platform-level components.
• Experience leading technical execution of projects, including customer engagement and presenting to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

We Prefer:

• Hands-on experience supporting DO-178 software development and certification activities (e.g., requirements, verification, or certification artifacts)
• Experience working across cross-functional engineering and program teams to deliver complex, integrated solutions
• Experience with C++ and VxWorks.
• Experience with Cloud Based development environments (such as AWS).
• Experience with AI based tools & development practices.
• Experience writing High-Level and Low-Level Requirements.
• Experience writing Test Cases and Automated Test Procedures.
• Experience with Civil Certification DO-178 – DAL A.
• Experience with design and development of Avionics Tools, Aircraft Applications or Middleware.
• Familiar with revision control concepts and tools (e.g. GIT, Subversion, JIRA).

Benefits

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 illness insurance, 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!

This role is eligible for relocation.

Learn More & Apply Now!

Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs).

Our industry-leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation. Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities?

If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies.

Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will work to find a way – the right way – to achieve what others can only dream of.

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 wit