Senior Principle Software Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-09-03

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-SAN DIEGO-SD1 ~ 8650 Balboa Ave ~ SAN ANTONIO BLDG

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status:

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

Collins Aerospace is currently seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer (P5) to serve as a senior technical leader for the GPS‑Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Service (GPNTS) program. This position is responsible for applying advanced expertise in software engineering, contributing to technological innovation, and driving the evolution of highly reliable, deterministic, and distributed software solutions.

You will operate with consultative direction, pursuing long‑range engineering goals, shaping architectural decisions, resolving unusually complex technical problems, and guiding major modernization and product‑line initiatives. You will also provide technical leadership, mentor engineering staff, influence program‑wide design approaches, and collaborate directly with customers and management on advanced research concepts, system studies, and application strategies.

This position will be an onsite role located in San Diego, CA.

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

What You Will Do

• You will serve as senior technical authority for architecture, system design, performance, reliability, and integration across the GPNTS navigation system

• You will apply advanced technical expertise in C/C++ development for embedded, multi‑processor, real‑time systems, designing solutions that are robust, efficient, and secure

• You will contribute to the development of new principles, concepts, algorithms, and architectural patterns supporting mission‑critical navigation, timing, and sensor fusion

• You will resolve unusually complex technical issues requiring innovative, ingenious, and often original approaches

• You will determine and pursue long‑range technical objectives with minimal oversight; assignments frequently originate from your own analysis and initiative

• You will lead system‑level integration efforts involving embedded platforms, real‑time data feeds, navigation sensors, and shipboard networking environments

• You will conduct deep performance analysis, advanced debugging, fault identification, and root‑cause analysis on large distributed components

• You will develop and review high‑fidelity design documentation, interface specifications, architectural models, and engineering review packages

• You will provide engineering leadership, mentoring, and technical guidance to junior and senior engineers, shaping development methods and engineering culture

• You will act as team spokesperson for advanced technical efforts, major system upgrades, or complex research and development projects

• You will advise program leadership and customers on architecture, system feasibility, technical trade studies, modernization planning, and advanced system applications

• You will recommend improvements to engineering processes, tools, and best practices; ensure soundness of technical judgment in software work products

What You Will Learn

• Advanced techniques for designing mission‑critical, deterministic, real‑time software in distributed defense environments

• System‑level architecture strategies for navigation, timing, data fusion, sensor integration, and high‑availability systems

• How broad modernization initiatives, refactoring strategies, and performance optimizations shape long‑term program stability and capability

• Approaches for scaling automated testing, CI/CD, and DevSecOps workflows across large multi‑team organizations

• Methods for influencing technical roadmaps, conducting complex trade studies, and guiding high‑consequence technical decisions

• Customer‑facing strategies for communicating risks, technical recommendations, performance assessments, and architectural concepts

Qualifications You Must Have

• Experience in C/C++ with extensive experience developing software for embedded, multi‑processor, or real‑time systems

• Experience with software architecture, distributed systems, deterministic processing, and advanced debugging

• Experience with Linux development, systems programming, and Linux‑based tools or build systems

• Experience leading technical teams, influencing architecture, and guiding complex engineering efforts
  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

• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or related STEM field

• Experience designing or modernizing embedded, real‑time, networking, or distributed systems architectures

• Expertise building or maturing CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI, Jenkins, or similar platforms

• Advanced application of secure coding principles, cybersecurity integration, or DevSecOps methodologies

• Experience developing large automated test infrastructures or simulation environments

• Experience integrating navigation sensors, timing signals, distributed messaging frameworks, or mission‑critical data fusion

• Experience guiding technical roadmaps, architectural refactoring, modernization, or long‑term sustainment strategies

• Prior customer‑facing technical leadership involving government stakeholders or program representatives

• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to influence engineering strategy across teams and organizational layers

What We Offer

• 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 

• May be eligible for Relocation

• And more!  

Learn More & Apply Now!

Mission Systems: 

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. 

* Please consider the following role type definitions as you apply for 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.

#MISENG

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 145,600 USD - 276,800 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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