Principal R&D Engineer - Navigation Analysis

As a Principal Research and Development Engineer - Navigation Analysis at Honeywell Aerospace, you will lead the strategic advancement of alternative navigation technologies. You will spearhead the analysis, design, and development of innovative navigation solutions that significantly enhance the safety, reliability, and performance of aerospace systems.

Reporting directly to senior leadership, you will operate from our Redmond WA or Plymouth, MN locations on a hybrid onsite work schedule. In this role, you will shape the future of aerospace navigation by driving the development of cutting-edge systems that enable safer and more efficient flight operations worldwide.

As a principal leader, you will also mentor and guide engineering teams, influence technical direction, and foster a culture of innovation and excellence. You will play a key role in building a strong, diverse team by recruiting top talent, developing successors, driving retention and engagement, and promoting an inclusive environment.

• Lead the analysis, design, and development of advanced alternative navigation algorithms and systems to elevate aerospace navigation capabilities.
• Drive collaboration across multidisciplinary teams to integrate navigation solutions into comprehensive aerospace platforms.
• Oversee research initiatives and validation testing to ensure navigation system performance, reliability, and compliance under diverse operational conditions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, fostering innovation and professional growth.
• Influence strategic planning and roadmap development for navigation technology advancements aligned with business objectives.

The annual base salary range for this position in Minneapolis is $176,000-$219,000. The annual base salary range for this position in Redmond is $202,000-$252,000. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. Honeywell Aerospace considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

This position is incentive eligible

Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. Person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status or have the ability to obtain an export authorization

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a technical discipline such as science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
• 10+ years of experience in research and development focused on navigation systems or related aerospace technologies
• Deep expertise in navigation algorithms, sensor fusion, and alternative navigation techniques
• Proficiency with navigation system simulation tools, data analysis software, and programming languages such as MATLAB, Python, or C++
• Extensive experience with aerospace navigation standards and regulatory requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field, demonstrating a strong foundation in theoretical and applied navigation technologies.
• Extensive experience leading complex navigation technology projects from concept through deployment, showcasing strategic vision and execution excellence.
• Deep expertise with GNSS, inertial navigation systems, and alternative navigation technologies, such as terrain referenced navigation (TRN), vision-based navigation, and robust sensor fusion techniques that enhance navigation reliability in GPS-denied or degraded environments.
• Proven ability to architect and validate sophisticated algorithms integrating multiple sensor inputs—including inertial sensors, radar altimeters, cameras, LiDAR, and other environmental sensors—to deliver accurate, resilient, and continuous navigation solutions under challenging operational conditions.
• Strong command of error modeling, fault detection, and mitigation strategies to ensure navigation system integrity, robustness, and compliance with aerospace safety standards.
• Experience applying advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to navigation data processing, anomaly detection, and system optimization, driving innovation in navigation solutions.
• Proficiency with simulation environments and hardware-in-the-loop testing methodologies to…