Principal Application Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted:

2026-08-07

Country:

United States of America

Location:

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

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

The company will offer immigration sponsorship for this position, if needed.​ The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

We are looking for an innovative and highly driven Senior Principal Electrical Engineer to join our Computing Products Hardware team within the Displays, Computing & Networking Directorate. In this role, you’ll help shape the future of avionics by architecting and delivering advanced hardware solutions that power data concentration, high‑performance I/O processing, application hosting, and synthetic vision across military, commercial, business, and regional aircraft.

You will be a key technical leader implementing next‑generation processing technologies into safety‑critical systems used around the world. From early concept and requirements definition through design, verification, certification, and sustainment, you will influence every phase of the hardware development lifecycle.

What You Will Do:

• Define product‑level hardware architectures for cutting‑edge embedded computing solutions

• Serve as architecture and design authority throughout the entire development lifecycle

• Lead Requirements and Architectural Reviews (RARs) and drive technical clarity across teams

• Mentor and develop less‑experienced engineers

• Establish standard work, design methodologies, and best practices across the department

• Act as a subject matter expert in technical reviews, non‑advocate reviews, and lifecycle artifact evaluations

• Support products from concept through production, including factory engagement and fielded system support

• Drive component obsolescence strategies and long‑term design sustainability

• Lead requirements capture, validation, and verification for complex electronics

• Execute and guide microprocessor and FPGA‑based circuit board design (schematic capture, part selection, simulation)

• Oversee complex PCB layout activities to ensure performance, manufacturability, and reliability

• Develop designs optimized for cost, manufacturability (DFM), and testability (DFT)

• Ensure strict compliance to DO‑160 and DO‑254 standards across all hardware development activities

• Present technical content confidently to peers, leadership, and external customers

• Prepare certification artifacts and package submittals for TSO, PMA, and other regulatory approvals

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 and minimum 7 years of experience.

• Schematic capture of digital/analog mixed-signal electrical circuit designs

• PCB layout experience

• Experience with hardware/software/systems integration

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience as a technical lead with the ability to work collaboratively and provide project leadership

• Ability to architect complex embedded system designs involving microprocessors, FPGAs, graphics processors, and memory

• Ability to serve as design authority, ensuring complex requirements and system‑level objectives are met

• Strong troubleshooting skills across hardware, software, and integrated system interactions

• Hands‑on lab experience working with complex engineering and test equipment

• Experience with PowerPC, Intel, and ARM architectures

• PCB layout expertise

• Experience implementing designs in compliance with DO‑160 and DO‑254 standards; familiarity with DO‑297

• Formal qualification experience, including DO‑160

• Experience bringing products through civil certification paths (TSO, PMA, TC, etc.)

• Experience interfacing with manufacturing teams and processes

• Understanding of Design to Cost (DTC+), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), and Design for Test (DFT)

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 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!

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today.

*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 possibility. 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.

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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