Senior Principal Engineer - Foundation Software; Onsite

Overview

Collins Aerospace, a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions for the aerospace and defense industry, is seeking a technical leader for the Next Generation Processing Foundational Software team. The role focuses on architecting, implementing, and validating the platform control unit (PCU) firmware and low-level platform software, spanning silicon-level initialization, boot loader development, secure boot, trusted execution environments, hardware root of trust, firmware security, and board bring-up.

The position requires cross-functional leadership with hardware, systems, and software teams.

• Define the architecture, requirements, and technical roadmap for PCU firmware and low-level platform software.
• Lead design and implementation of secure boot, hardware root-of-trust, key provisioning, and platform trust mechanisms.
• Guide bring-up efforts for the processing platform, including boot loader initialization, BSP development, driver bring-up, and hardware validation.
• Provide technical leadership to a team of embedded software, security, and hardware-interface engineers.
• Collaborate with hardware designers to define processor initialization flows, power management states, and silicon interaction models.
• Participate in threat modeling, security reviews, and architectural risk assessments for platform boot and control paths.
• Drive debugging and root-cause analysis of complex hardware–software interactions.
• Oversee integration of PCU firmware with system software, OS, and higher-level platform components.
• Help establish coding standards, design best practices, and documentation for platform and security software.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for internal and external partners and vendors.
• Mentor engineering teams and set technical direction for platform security.

• Must Have: Knowledge of secure boot design, boot loader architecture, cryptographic trust models, and hardware security modules.
• Extensive experience with embedded systems, firmware development, and low-level platform software.
• Hands-on experience with hardware board bring-up, processor initialization, and debugging tools (JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.).
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and low-level software development, including register-level programming.
• Deep understanding of processor architectures, SoC subsystems, memory interfaces, and hardware abstraction layers.
• Experience leading engineering teams, providing architectural direction, and driving complex multi-disciplinary tasks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Typically requires a degree in STEM and minimum 10 years of prior relevant experience, or an advanced degree with minimum 7 years of experience.

• Preferred: Experience with ARM Trust Zone, TPM, TEE, or equivalent secure processing technologies.
• Familiarity with Linux kernel, RTOS bring-up, and U-Boot or custom bootloaders.
• Experience with security certification, compliance, or platform hardening methodologies.
• Background in safety-critical or mission-critical embedded systems.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Three weeks of vacation for new hires
• 401(k) plan with employer matching and additional retirement contributions
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Optional coverages (pet, home & auto, additional life, accidental, etc.)
• Adoption and family planning benefits, wellness programs, and employee assistance

This is a U.S.

-based role. Onsite work expectations apply where indicated. The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 USD, with a good-faith estimate based on experience, location, and qualifications. RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected status.

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