Principal Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Principal Engineer jobs in Iowa are steadily active, with demand concentrated in advanced manufacturing, agricultural technology, infrastructure systems, and insurance technology. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport are the primary hiring centers, anchored by established employers like John Deere, Collins Aerospace, and Principal Financial Group. The most sought-after specializations include systems engineering, software architecture, and mechanical engineering for industrial applications. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles75
Top employerCollins Aerospace
Top cityCedar Rapids, IA
Cities hiring5
Work type75% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Showing 5 of 75+ Principal Engineer jobs

Collins Aerospace
Principal Electrical Engineer - ASIC/FPGA Verification (Onsite)
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Collins Aerospace
Added 2d ago
Principal Electrical Engineer - ASIC/FPGA Verification (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Collins Aerospace
Principal Electrical Engineer – DSP ASIC/FPGA (Onsite)
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Collins Aerospace
Added 2d ago
Principal Electrical Engineer – DSP ASIC/FPGA (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Collins Aerospace
Principal Electrical Engineer - ASIC/FPGA (Onsite)
We won't show you this job again
Collins Aerospace
Added 2d ago
Principal Electrical Engineer - ASIC/FPGA (Onsite)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
IT Support
Project Management
Technical Program Management
$108k - $205k/yr
On-Site
10,000+

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Collins Aerospace
Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Systems Architect) (Hybrid)
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Collins Aerospace
Added 2d ago
Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Systems Architect) (Hybrid)
Collins Aerospace
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Automation QA
Cloud & DevOps
DevOps
$132k - $252k/yr
Hybrid
10,000+

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Stanley Consultants
Principal Control Systems Engineer
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Stanley Consultants
Added 3d ago
Principal Control Systems Engineer
Stanley Consultants
Des Moines, Iowa
Customer Service
Customer Success
Customer Support
$159k - $214k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering
1,001-5,000

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See All 75 Principal Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Principal Engineer Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Cedar Rapids
69 jobs
Palo
2 jobs
Des Moines
2 jobs
Hiawatha
1 job
Keosauqua
1 job

Principal Engineer Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Collins Aerospace
    Collins Aerospace58
  • BAE Systems USA
    BAE Systems USA10
  • NextEra Energy
    NextEra Energy2
  • Crystal
    Crystal1
  • Dover Corporation
    Dover Corporation1

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in principal engineer jobs across Iowa.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science from an ABET-accredited program required
  • Ten or more years of progressive engineering experience with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Proven ability to define architecture, set standards, and mentor senior engineering teams
  • Deep expertise in one or more domains such as embedded systems, cloud platforms, or mechanical design
  • Experience driving cross-functional projects from concept through production at scale
  • Strong communication skills for translating complex technical decisions to non-engineering stakeholders

Principal Engineer Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a principal engineer in Iowa?

Most principal engineer roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering or computer science discipline, followed by many years of progressively senior engineering work. For roles in civil, structural, or mechanical disciplines involving public projects, Iowa requires licensure as a Professional Engineer through the Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board. Software and systems principal engineers typically advance through demonstrated technical leadership and deep domain expertise rather than a state-issued license.

Which companies hire principal engineers in Iowa?

Iowa principal engineer roles are posted by Collins Aerospace, BAE Systems USA, and NextEra Energy and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Iowa's combination of large insurance and financial services firms in Des Moines, aerospace and defense manufacturers in Cedar Rapids, and agricultural equipment makers in the Quad Cities makes it a notably diverse market for senior engineering talent.

Which Iowa cities have the most principal engineer jobs?

Cedar Rapids, Palo, and Des Moines account for the largest share of principal engineer openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives volume through its concentration of insurance technology, financial services, and enterprise software employers, while Cedar Rapids reflects aerospace and defense manufacturing demand from firms like Collins Aerospace, and the Davenport and Quad Cities corridor is anchored by John Deere's engineering operations.

Are there remote principal engineer jobs in Iowa?

Yes, and more than many engineering disciplines, particularly for software, systems architecture, and cloud-focused roles. About 25% of principal engineer openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the flexibility that senior individual contributor and technical leadership roles often carry. Hardware, embedded systems, and manufacturing-adjacent principal engineer roles are far more likely to require on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a principal engineer in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic path is to enter at a mid-level engineer or senior engineer role with one of Iowa's large employers, such as John Deere, Collins Aerospace, or Principal Financial Group, which run structured new-graduate and early-career engineering programs. From there, building a portfolio of cross-functional project leadership, system design ownership, or open-source contributions accelerates the transition. Adjacent roles such as senior software engineer, lead systems engineer, or staff engineer are the most common lateral moves that lead to a principal title in Iowa's market.

Where can I find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to principal engineer jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly through each listing.

See All 75 Principal Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Principal Engineer Jobs