Principal Engineer, Structural Engineering; Onsite

Principal Structural Engineer

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Principal Structural Engineer to fill a high business impact role by representing the Engineering organization through tactical and strategic oversight.

This experienced Engineer will provide technical expertise throughout the product design, build, and delivery processes for complex, integrated aircraft components of metallic and advanced composite construction.

This role will drive meaningful improvements across Engineering Production Support processes by applying a strong understanding of product design, performing detailed structural analyses, and promoting continuous improvement in engineering efficiency, product producibility, quality, and cost reduction.

What You Will Do:

• Perform complex structural analyses using hand and computer calculations, including static, fatigue and fracture analysis of aerospace components.
• Define, assess, and document repair designs for metallic, bonded metallic, and advanced composite aerospace structures.
• Work with Materials Review Board (MRB) to develop standard repair instructions.
• Analyze repair proposals and prepare formal engineering reports supporting minor and major repairs for customers and FAA approval, which may include obtaining authorized engineering signatures.
• Provide limited direction to others in stress analysis and may act as technical lead on assigned projects.
• Coordinate repairs with internal and external customers, as well as external staff of major airlines and aircraft manufacturers.
• Develop and implement processes, methods, and tools that improve efficiency throughout Engineering Production Support workflows activities.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on engineering quality, productivity, standardization, and cycle time reduction.
• Assist cross functional technical team in identifying opportunities for improved producibility and working with extended engineering team to implement meaningful changes.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to identify and implement cost reduction opportunities across product lines and processes.
• Provide technical expertise to Engineering Build Assessment and design study activities to drive regular improvements in defect eradication.
• Review, quantify, and drive support of defect corrective action plans across the product lines.
• Support product development teams by providing defect eradication, producibility, and lessons learned early in the product lifecycle.
• Communicate technical findings, recommendations, risks, and decisions clearly to engineering leadership, customers, and cross functional stakeholders.
• Ability to travel up to 10% as needed.

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.
• Structural analysis background including static stress analysis and fatigue analysis.
• Experience with Microsoft Office computer skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook.
• Experience with stress analysis of metallic and advanced composite structure including repairs on bonded metallic and composite structure.
• Experience using MSC Nastran and Patran for FEA.
• Metallic and advanced composite structural analysis capabilities experience.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Ability to perform detail analysis by hand calculations and computer methods.
• Proficiency in programming and automation tools such as Python, Excel VBA, , C#.NET, Visual Basic, or similar languages for developing internal engineering tools, automating repetitive tasks, and improving workflow efficiency.
• Knowledge or practical experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Generative AI, or AI-assisted engineering tools is an advantage, particularly in applying AI to engineering design, analysis, documentation, or process optimization.
• Experience working effectively across functional boundaries and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic production support environment.
• Demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to address issues of complex scope.
• Proactive, action-oriented approach to managing tasks and activities.
• Airframe/aerospace design and stress experience.
• Experience working on aircraft modifications and/or in an MRO environment performing design to return aircraft to an airworthy condition.

What We Offer:

Benefits:

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,…