Principal Engineer - System (Hybrid)

Overview

Principal Systems Engineer for Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS) avionics at Collins Aerospace, leading systems engineering across the product development lifecycle for safety-critical avionics systems.

What you'll do

• Lead the decomposition of customer requirements into clear, traceable system-, subsystem-, and component-level requirements.
• Guide and mentor Systems Engineers developing complex CNS solutions.
• Define system architectures, functional decomposition, interfaces, and design documentation for advanced surveillance and avionics products, including systems requiring Design Assurance Level (DAL) A compliance.
• Establish, capture, analyze, trace, and manage system requirements using tools such as Jama and IBM DOORS.
• Develop comprehensive system integration, verification, and validation approaches, including test plans, procedures, execution strategies, and detailed test reports.
• Develop certification artifacts and support regulatory compliance activities aligned with applicable aerospace development and safety assessment standards.
• Develop Python-based tools and automation solutions that improve engineering productivity, verification efficiency, and process consistency.
• Collaborate with software architects, hardware engineers, and cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, reliable, and sustainable system solutions.
• Drive adherence to ARP4754A/B, ARP4761, and applicable avionics communication and interface standards.
• Identify opportunities to optimize engineering processes, advance technical roadmaps, and strengthen organizational capabilities.
• Mentor engineers, share technical expertise, and contribute to talent development, performance management, and a culture of continuous learning.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electronics, Computer Engineering, or a related STEM discipline.
• 11–15 years of experience in avionics systems engineering, with demonstrated expertise in complex engineering environments.
• At least 8 years of experience across the complete Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC), including requirements development, architecture, design, implementation, integration, validation, and verification.
• At least 8 years of experience capturing and managing system requirements using Jama and/or IBM DOORS.
• At least 9 years of experience developing system architectures, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), functional decomposition, and system design documentation.
• At least 8 years of experience developing integration, verification, and validation strategies for safety-critical avionics systems.
• At least 8 years of experience working with avionics communication protocols and interfaces, including AFDX, ARINC 429, ARINC 615/615A, and Ethernet.
• At least 8 years of experience applying aerospace development and safety assessment guidelines, including ARP4754A/B and ARP4761.
• At least 6 years of experience supporting certification activities involving the FAA, certification authorities, or internal certification organizations.
• At least 8 years of experience working in Agile development environments using tools such as JIRA and Confluence.
• At least 6 years of experience developing engineering automation tools using Python.
• Hands-on experience with engineering tools such as Jama, IBM DOORS, Git, Subversion, and RapiTest.
• Experience integrating hardware and software within complex avionics platforms.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice to have

• Good to have 2-3 years of experience with avionics navigation products, including radar altimeters and communication/navigation radio applications.
• At least 3 years of experience supporting Stages of Involvement (SOI) audits, certification reviews, and compliance evidence preparation.
• Working knowledge of RTCA DO-178, DO-160, DO-254, and DO-297.
• At least 5 years of experience performing system integration and verification testing.
• Experience with Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for avionics systems.
• Understanding of Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS), Flight Management Systems (FMS), Flight Control Systems (FCS), and cockpit display systems.
• Experience mentoring engineers, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and driving technical decisions for complex aerospace products.

Details

• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (Northgate, Sy No 2/2 Venkatala Village, Yelahanka Hobli).
• Hybrid role: works regularly both onsite and offsite; ratio of onsite time determined with your leader.
• Commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee's personal responsibility.
• Typically requires a STEM degree and a minimum of 8 years of prior relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years experience.