Principal Project Engineer - Mechanical Design & Integration (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2025-11-21

Country:

United States of America

Location:

HTX36: Richardson, TX 3200 E Renner Rd , Richardson, TX, 75082-2402 USA

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance​

Security Clearance:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. 

Collins Aerospace has an exciting opportunity for a proven Principal Project Engineer to lead, develop, and establish the required technologies for a key Strategic Defense Solutions program.  This multi-faceted role will lead cross functional teams through new development, integration, and test of our systems.  The ideal candidate should be an established leader that can leverage proven experience in integrating and testing mechanical systems onto DoD airborne platforms. Your experience in mechanical packaging design, structure, cooling approaches will fuel your success in this role.  As a project engineer, your ability to translate system architectures/concepts to reliable products and systems will be key!  Bring only your best to this dynamic role.

The Project Engineer establishes design concepts, criteria and engineering efforts for product research, development, integration and test. The Project Engineer collaborates across functions including project management, planning, engineering teams and line management.  The Project Engineer coordinates the preparation of proposals, business plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions of contracts.  This is a very visible position at the forefront of major development and integration effort for the Airborne Strategic Communication team.

What You Will Do

• Lead a cross functional team of engineers to develop, document, and test a major aircraft subsystem
• Own the work products for development, documentation, validation/verification and integration of large mechanical systems
• Technical leadership for several proposal and business development efforts establishing technical, schedule, and cost baselines
• Helps interface between development teams and site Subject Matter Experts to bring best products to bear
• Translates complex configuration details, schedules, trade studies, interfaces and requirement considerations to influence internal leadership, program teams, program managers, and customers
• for managing the technical performance of a program team which may include multiple small programs (5-10) or a larger program (20-40).
• Customer-facing role representing Collins’ as a technical subject matter expert to guide contract performance and shape future business
• Prepares and maintains project plans, budgets, and staffing requirements to ensure that all action item lists are completed, and project quality expectations are met.
• Drives project schedules to keep programs running efficiently and tracks budget
• When required, derive and establish business and engineering processes to streamline the way we do business
• Manage the project including tracking & reporting on budget and schedule performance through Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) techniques.
• Support and motivate the team to deliver customer milestones and deliverables to meet program business plan
• Interfacing with management, suppliers, customers, and members of the technical design team
• Provide timely and effective communication to management and customers
• Engineering activities associated with design, development, procurement, and testing.
• Provide technical and functional leadership for assigned Components, Projects, Teams and Tasks
• Request & manage budgets; identify & report any issues or changes in scope
• Plan and maintain detailed schedule and resource plans
• Lead Technology Development programs guiding products through Technology Readiness Level process
• Lead test activities to prove out components and/or understand issues
• Ensure designs comply with Standard Work and customer requirements
• Benchmark similar hardware and review customer needs to strategically drive system and hardware development.
• Ensure excellence in engineering and technology
• Mentor and support the development of associates  
• Provide bid & pursuit Leadership

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
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date ​
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance ​
• Able to communicate and make presentations to senior level leadership
• Able to travel up to 25% of the time depending on the program phase (typically 10% or less)

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with hardware & software design life cycle experience
• Progressive leadership in the design and test of software components
• Experience using Agile methodologies is a plus
• History of continuous improvement and relentless root cause methodology
• Prior Cost Account Manager experience
• Experience navigating competing priorities, delivering the highest level of engagement and delivering successful outcomes in critical situations
• Experience leading projects and teams within a highly matrixed organization
• Strong Design Integration skills
• Understanding of Aerospace engineering design and analysis review/release process.
• Understanding of the configuration management process
• Strong Project management skills using MS Office/MS Project/EVMS
• Identification of risks early on and ability to manage/mitigate by leveraging Sr. Leadership Support.

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!

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 customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

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. 

Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings. 

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 101,000 USD - 203,000 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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