Principal Engineer, Structural Engineering (Onsite)

This role is based at our Foley, AL location and requires the candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee).

About the role

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Principal Structural Engineer to provide technical expertise throughout the product design, build, and delivery processes for complex, integrated aircraft components of metallic and advanced composite construction. This role drives 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.

Responsibilities

• 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, including obtaining authorized engineering signatures.
• Provide limited direction to others in stress analysis and 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.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on engineering quality, productivity, standardization, and cycle time reduction.
• Assist cross-functional technical teams in identifying opportunities for improved producibility and 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.
• Travel up to 10% as needed.

Requirements

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years of 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 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with stress analysis of metallic and advanced composite structures, including repairs on bonded metallic and composite structures.
• Experience using MSC Nastran and Patran for FEA.
• Metallic and advanced composite structural analysis capabilities.

Skills

• Ability to perform detailed analysis by hand calculations and computer methods.
• Proficiency in programming and automation tools such as Python, Excel VBA, VB.NET, C#.NET, Visual Basic, or similar languages for developing internal engineering tools and automating repetitive tasks.
• Knowledge or practical experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Generative AI, or AI-assisted engineering tools, particularly in applying AI to engineering design, analysis, documentation, or process optimization.
• Experience working effectively across functional boundaries and managing 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan with 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: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, and 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.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $107,500 - $204,500 USD. The 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 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 programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon various factors including individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role may be eligible for relocation assistance.