Senior Principal Engineer - Foundation Software (Onsite)

Do you want to be part of an innovative, forward thinking, highly motivated engineering design team?   

The Next Generation Processing Foundational Software team is focused on the development of processing solutions that can be applied across a wide variety of Avionics products in safety critical commercial and military applications.  Our team is responsible for the development, certification and sustainment of these processing and graphics solutions. 

The foundation software team has an opening for a highly experienced technical leader responsible for architecting, implementing, and validating the platform control unit software. This role spans silicon-level initialization, bootloader development, secure boot, trusted execution environments, hardware root of trust, firmware security, and low‑level board bring‑up. It requires cross‑functional leadership with hardware, systems, and software teams. 

What You Will Do: 

• Define the architecture, requirements, and technical roadmap for PCU firmware and low‑level platform software 

• Lead a team through the design and implementation of secure boot, hardware root‑of‑trust, key provisioning, and platform trust mechanisms 

• Guide bring‑up efforts for the processing platform, including bootloader initialization, BSP development, driver bring‑up, and hardware validation 

• Provide technical leadership to a team of embedded software, security, and hardware‑interface engineers 

• Collaborate closely with hardware designers to define processor initialization flows, power management states, and silicon interaction models 

• Participate in the development and review of threat modeling, security reviews, and architectural risk assessments for platform boot and control paths 

• Drive debugging and root‑cause analysis of complex hardware–software interactions 

• Oversee integration of PCU firmware with system software, OS, and higher‑level platform components 

• Help to establish coding standards, design best practices, and documentation for platform and security software 

• Serve as a technical point of contact for internal and external partners and vendors 

• Mentor engineering teams and set technical direction for platform security 

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Knowledge of secure boot design, bootloader architecture, cryptographic trust models, and hardware security modules 

• Extensive experience with embedded systems, firmware development, and low‑level platform software 

• Hands‑on experience with hardware board bring‑up, processor initialization, and debugging tools (JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, etc.) 

• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and low‑level software development, including register‑level programming 

• Deep understanding of processor architectures, SoC subsystems, memory interfaces, and hardware abstraction layers 

• Experience leading engineering teams, providing architectural direction, and driving complex multi‑disciplinary tasks 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills 

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with ARM TrustZone, TPM, TEE, or equivalent secure processing technologies 

• Familiarity with Linux kernel, RTOS bring‑up, and U‑Boot or custom bootloaders 

• Experience with security certification, compliance, or platform hardening methodologies.

• Background in safety‑critical or mission‑critical embedded systems 

What We Offer

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, 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!​

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today.

*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.

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.

At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.  

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.