Principal Electrical Engineer - Computing Products (Onsite)

Principal Electrical Engineer

We are seeking a highly motivated Principal Electrical Engineer to join the Computing Products Department within the Displays, Computing & Networking Directorate in Cedar Rapids, IA. Our team develops and sustains a broad range of avionics products, including high‑performance and high‑assurance processing platforms, video and graphics processing modules, and high‑bandwidth networking solutions.

We are looking for a strong technical leader with an action‑oriented mindset who can provide project engineering expertise while leading a small team of hardware engineers. The ideal candidate will also bring deep digital design experience to support upcoming architecture efforts and the development of high‑speed digital circuit card assemblies (CCAs).

In this role, you will work with cutting‑edge technology and play a key part in shaping our next‑generation network products. Success requires the ability to effectively balance project management responsibilities—such as managing scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder communication—with hands‑on technical contributions in hardware design.

What You Will Do:

• Lead cross‑functional engineering teams—including software, systems, and mechanical—to deliver integrated solutions that meet customer, program, and business requirements.
• Manage project performance using Earned Value Management System (EVMS) and risk‑management practices to ensure schedule, cost, and technical objectives are met.
• Engage directly with customers and internal stakeholders to define requirements, provide technical updates, and ensure overall customer satisfaction.
• Drive the design and development of high‑speed digital circuit card assemblies (CCAs), including requirements definition, schematic capture, layout coordination, integration, and testing.
• Support product recertification activities (TSO or PMA) resulting from minor or major design modifications.
• Evaluate and disposition part change notifications, including component obsolescence and end‑of‑life impacts.
• Analyze designs for Design‑to‑Cost (DTC+), Design for Manufacturing (DFM), and Design for Test (DFT), identifying cost‑reduction and producibility improvements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering staff, including guidance on high‑speed digital design principles, layout best practices, and engineering excellence.

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
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly present technical concepts and design trade‑offs to cross‑functional teams, leadership, and customers.
• Demonstrated project engineering experience overseeing teams through each phase of the RLPM lifecycle, with a strong focus on schedule management and execution excellence.
• Proven experience leading circuit card development from concept through production, including requirements definition, schematic capture, layout oversight, prototype build, verification, and system integration.
• Advanced proficiency with industry‑standard PCB design tools such as Xpedition, Cadence Allegro, or Altium Designer.
• Strong understanding of DFM/DFT principles, PCB fabrication processes, controlled‑impedance design, and board bring‑up activities.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex hardware issues during integration and qualification testing.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM), with strong knowledge of Earned Value Management System (EVMS) principles for managing cost, schedule, and risk on hardware development programs.
• Ability to develop cost estimates and contribute to bids and proposals.
• Experience applying Agile methodologies to hardware development; Scrum Master and/or Product Owner experience and familiarity with tracking work in JIRA.

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!

May be eligible for relocation.