Sr. Principal Manufacturing Engineer (onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-10-30

 Country:

United States of America

 Location:

US-CA-FAIRFIELD-3530 ~ 3530 Branscombe Rd ~ BRANSCOMBE

 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.
• As a Sr.
• Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a critical role in leading and driving manufacturing engineering efforts for energetic materials, components, and associated processes at the Fairfield, California site for PAD, CAD and Linear product lines.
• You will ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and facility requirements while contributing to the successful development and production of high-quality products.

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

You Must Have

• 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.

Qualifications

We Prefer

• 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 (Programmable Logic Controllers), 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

This position may offer relocation.

Some of our competitive benefits packages include:

• 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
• And more!

Learn More & Apply Now!

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be.

Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customers succeed today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge?

Join our mission today.

The next chapter of our future as an aerospace company is here, and we are excited about what this means for our employees and customers! Get onboard the Collins Aerospace Operations team and play a part in managing our innovative products from inception to delivery.

The Operations team continues to grow and aims to strengthen the connection of Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain and Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) across Collins Aerospace. In this dynamic environment, you will have the opportunity to network across our businesses and functions, all while improving the productivity, quality and efficiency of our operations worldwide.

*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.

• 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 possibilities. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.

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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, re