Collins Aerospace
Principal Mechanical Engineer (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace, Rockford, Illinois, United States, 61103
Principal Mechanical Engineer (Onsite)
Location:
A01: Rockford - Aerospace 4747 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, IL, 61125 USA
Date Posted:
2025-12-17
Country:
United States of America
Position Role Type:
Onsite
Citizenship Requirement:
U.S. citizenship required
Security Clearance:
None/Not Required
Overview The Principal Mechanical Engineer plays a critical leadership role at the intersection of design excellence and disciplined program execution. Serving as a Project Engineer for complex mechanical scope, this position owns technical direction from early concept through development, verification, and transition to production. You’ll be responsible for setting design intent, driving architecture and trade decisions, and ensuring solutions are robust, producible, and aligned with program objectives—all while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturing readiness in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
This is a senior, principal-level individual contributor role designed for an engineer who thrives in ambiguity and leads through technical authority and influence. While hands‑on technical depth remains essential, success in this role is defined by ownership of outcomes—integrating analysis, test strategy, risk reduction, and EVMS-based execution into a cohesive, executable plan. You’ll collaborate closely with Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain partners, provide clear technical insight to program leadership, and guide supporting engineers to deliver disciplined, high‑impact results across the full program lifecycle.
What You Will Do
Serve as Project Engineer for assigned mechanical scope from concept through production transition.
Own mechanical technical direction, execution approach, and design intent across development programs.
Lead design and development activities including trade studies, architecture decisions, and design reviews.
Integrate manufacturing readiness, producibility, and verification considerations into design decisions.
Drive design maturity and risk reduction through analysis, test strategy definition, and validation planning.
Coordinate with cross‑functional functions (Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Supply Chain) to ensure aligned execution.
Support EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and identification of risks and variances within assigned mechanical scope.
Provide clear technical status, inputs, and assessments to support program reporting and reviews.
Provide technical guidance and oversight to supporting engineers; integrate inputs into a cohesive solution.
Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to program and functional leadership.
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.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design and development efforts through production readiness.
Proven ability to operate as a Project Engineer or technical owner for complex mechanical scope.
Strong background in mechanical design principles, requirements interpretation, and design decision‑making.
Working knowledge of verification and validation planning, including integration of test strategy into design.
Experience supporting EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and risk identification.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.
Qualifications We Prefer
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Experience in development programs transitioning to low‑rate or full‑rate production.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.
Background in manufacturing readiness, producibility, or production support.
Working knowledge of dynamics, loads, vibration, or structural behavior sufficient to inform design and verification decisions.
Experience conducting or leading technical trade studies and design reviews.
Familiarity with NX, Teamcenter, and PLM-based release processes.
Experience mentoring or technically guiding other engineers without formal supervisory responsibility.
Customer‑facing technical experience or participation in major program reviews.
Ability to communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations clearly to program and functional leadership.
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.
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.
And more!
Learn More & Apply Now 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.
Role Type Definitions
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.
Seniorities and Job Details Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
Equal Opportunity Statement 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.
Privacy Policy and Terms Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms.
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Location:
A01: Rockford - Aerospace 4747 Harrison Avenue, Rockford, IL, 61125 USA
Date Posted:
2025-12-17
Country:
United States of America
Position Role Type:
Onsite
Citizenship Requirement:
U.S. citizenship required
Security Clearance:
None/Not Required
Overview The Principal Mechanical Engineer plays a critical leadership role at the intersection of design excellence and disciplined program execution. Serving as a Project Engineer for complex mechanical scope, this position owns technical direction from early concept through development, verification, and transition to production. You’ll be responsible for setting design intent, driving architecture and trade decisions, and ensuring solutions are robust, producible, and aligned with program objectives—all while balancing performance, cost, schedule, and manufacturing readiness in a highly regulated aerospace environment.
This is a senior, principal-level individual contributor role designed for an engineer who thrives in ambiguity and leads through technical authority and influence. While hands‑on technical depth remains essential, success in this role is defined by ownership of outcomes—integrating analysis, test strategy, risk reduction, and EVMS-based execution into a cohesive, executable plan. You’ll collaborate closely with Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, and Supply Chain partners, provide clear technical insight to program leadership, and guide supporting engineers to deliver disciplined, high‑impact results across the full program lifecycle.
What You Will Do
Serve as Project Engineer for assigned mechanical scope from concept through production transition.
Own mechanical technical direction, execution approach, and design intent across development programs.
Lead design and development activities including trade studies, architecture decisions, and design reviews.
Integrate manufacturing readiness, producibility, and verification considerations into design decisions.
Drive design maturity and risk reduction through analysis, test strategy definition, and validation planning.
Coordinate with cross‑functional functions (Systems, Manufacturing, Test, Quality, Supply Chain) to ensure aligned execution.
Support EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and identification of risks and variances within assigned mechanical scope.
Provide clear technical status, inputs, and assessments to support program reporting and reviews.
Provide technical guidance and oversight to supporting engineers; integrate inputs into a cohesive solution.
Communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations to program and functional leadership.
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.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design and development efforts through production readiness.
Proven ability to operate as a Project Engineer or technical owner for complex mechanical scope.
Strong background in mechanical design principles, requirements interpretation, and design decision‑making.
Working knowledge of verification and validation planning, including integration of test strategy into design.
Experience supporting EVMS-based execution, including scope definition, schedule alignment, technical progress assessment, and risk identification.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.
Qualifications We Prefer
Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
Experience in development programs transitioning to low‑rate or full‑rate production.
Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal direction, resolving ambiguity and setting technical direction.
Background in manufacturing readiness, producibility, or production support.
Working knowledge of dynamics, loads, vibration, or structural behavior sufficient to inform design and verification decisions.
Experience conducting or leading technical trade studies and design reviews.
Familiarity with NX, Teamcenter, and PLM-based release processes.
Experience mentoring or technically guiding other engineers without formal supervisory responsibility.
Customer‑facing technical experience or participation in major program reviews.
Ability to communicate technical status, risks, and recommendations clearly to program and functional leadership.
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.
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.
And more!
Learn More & Apply Now 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.
Role Type Definitions
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.
Seniorities and Job Details Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
Industries
Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
Equal Opportunity Statement 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.
Privacy Policy and Terms Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms.
#J-18808-Ljbffr