Principal Engineer Jobs in Connecticut

Date Posted:

2026-09-25

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CT-EAST HARTFORD-K ~ 400 Main St ~ BLDG K

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world’s most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power systems and has been revolutionizing modern flight for over 100 years. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Pratt & Whitney is seeking an experienced, proactive, and results-oriented Senior Principal Engineer Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) Lead to join our Engineering Support to Operations (ESTO) organization. In this role, you will lead the Engineering organization’s support of Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) deployment and execution for key and critical hardware, helping ensure successful transitions from development into production. Reporting to the Engineering Support to Operations MRL Associate Director, the MRL Senior Principal will provide technical and organizational leadership to a team responsible for advancing MRL performance across assigned hardware. You will partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Manufacturing Engineering, Supplier Development, suppliers, and customers to identify and mitigate manufacturing risks and achieve and sustain MRL 8 and beyond through demonstrated process capability, quality, cost, and production performance. This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for a self-starter who can operate effectively in both team-based and independent environments, develop talent, influence across organizational boundaries, and translate manufacturing challenges into measurable business results.

What You Will Do:

• Drive MRL progression to MRL 8 and beyond by developing, executing, and maintaining measurable readiness plans for assigned key and critical hardware; establish clear milestones, monitor performance, identify gaps, and ensure timely completion of required progression activities.
• Lead cross-functional risk reduction and manufacturing readiness execution by partnering with CIPT, Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement, Supplier Development, Operations, Quality, and Core Engineering to identify, communicate, and mitigate MRL risks; support monthly MCAB and MECD reviews and provide clear status, actions, and escalation to senior leadership and customers.
• Improve supplier and internal process capability by leading the team in obtaining and evaluating required manufacturing documentation and objective process-performance data, including PFDs, PFMEAs, PCPs, Tool and Gage Plans, and capability data, while driving timely corrective actions that reduce defects, improve process capability, and strengthen manufacturing readiness.
• Enable successful qualification, certification, FAI, NPI ramp-up, and production transitions by ensuring MRL requirements are incorporated into qualification and process-certification activities, engineering changes are effectively implemented, and assigned hardware achieves target or better defect, quality, cost, and run-at-rate performance before and during transition to production.
• Build a high-performing MRL organization by leading, coaching, and developing a diverse technical team; establish priorities and performance expectations, remove barriers, secure appropriate resources and funding, communicate opportunities for quality improvement, risk reduction, and cost savings, and complete administrative activities necessary to consistently deliver MRL objectives.

Travel Requirement: Travel up to 20% (Domestic and International).

What You Will Learn:

• Deepen your expertise in MRL principles, readiness planning, risk management, and production readiness for complex aerospace hardware.
• Gain experience leading hardware through qualification, certification, FAI, NPI ramp-up, and transition into sustained production.
• Strengthen your ability to influence and drive results across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Supplier Development, suppliers, and customers.
• Expand your skills in process capability, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement to deliver measurable improvements in quality, cost, and production performance.
• Develop your ability to coach technical talent, communicate with senior leadership, remove organizational barriers, and translate complex manufacturing challenges into business results.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field and 10 years of relevant engineering experience, or an advanced degree in a related field and 7 years of relevant engineering experience.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Demonstrated knowledge of CORE and/or Six Sigma methodologies, with certification preferred; ability to apply structured problem-solving and process-improvement tools to achieve measurable results.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, including DFSS, Red-X, Lean, and TPS, with the ability to apply these tools to identify and eliminate process variation, waste, and root causes.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical and business information and influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and collaborate with technical team members, share knowledge, and contribute effectively in a team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook); experience with NX, SAP, and Solumina.

What We Offer:

• Eligible for Relocation.

Learn More and Apply Now!

Department/Segment Overview:

Engineering Support to Operations (ESTO): ESTO provides dedicated support by eliminating quality notifications, escapes, works stops and enabling producibility and delivery of legacy and new parts, assemblies, modules, and engines. ESTO covers all engine programs and part families, enabling engine deliveries, first piece reviews, first article inspections, analysis automation, process certification. ESTO also supports the Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) initiative in Operations. Technical disciplines in ESTO include Project Engineering, Mechanical Design, Structural Analysis, Product Definition, and Manufacturing Engineering.

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

• 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.

Candidates will learn more about role type and current site status throughout the recruiting process. For onsite and hybrid roles, commuting to and from the assigned site is the employee’s personal responsibility.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 USD. The salary 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 benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

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 annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.

RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.

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.

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