Principal Systems Engineer (P4)

Date Posted: 2026-02-09

Country: United States of America

Location: US-TX-RICHARDSON-C17 ~ 1717 Cityline Dr ~ CITYLINE C17

Position Role Type: Onsite

Salary Range: $107,500 USD - $204,500 USD

Security Clearance Requirements

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Security Clearance Type: DoD Clearance: Secret
• Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

About the Role

Strategic Defense Solutions is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer (P4) to lead and support the design, development, and validation of multi-domain Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) mission systems for aircraft and ground stations supporting U.S. military customers. This role places strong emphasis on front-end program execution, including bids, proposals, and capture activities, while continuing to provide deep technical leadership across hardware and software systems—from standalone "black box" solutions to complex, end-to-end platform architectures.

The successful candidate will serve as a technical authority during pursuit phases, shaping system concepts, requirements, architectures, and technical baselines to enable competitive, executable proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering activities for bids, proposals, and capture efforts, including requirements analysis, solution architecture development, technical baselining, and risk assessment
• Translate customer needs, CONOPS, and draft requirements into feasible, affordable, and executable system solutions during pursuit and execution phases
• Capture, analyze, decompose, derive, and trace system and subsystem requirements across proposed and awarded programs
• Develop and assess system architectures, models, and trade studies to support proposal discriminators and design decisions
• Define verification strategies and test approaches at the system and subsystem levels
• Support proposal development, including technical volumes, BOEs, compliance matrices, and technical review participation
• Plan and execute project-level work to meet schedule, cost, and performance objectives, with awareness of Earned Value impacts
• Identify, evaluate, and manage technical risks and opportunities, particularly during early program phases
• Interface with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Program Management, Business Development, Finance, Quality, and Operations
• Represent the Systems Engineering function in internal and external customer and stakeholder engagements

Qualifications

Required

• 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
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued Security Clearance is required
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Demonstrated experience developing, decomposing, and deriving system and subsystem requirements
• Experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts and tools
• Proven experience defining system and subsystem designs
• Experience supporting or leading technical contributions to bids, proposals, and pursuits

Preferred

• Experience with NC3-relevant communications technologies, including VLF, LF, HF, V/UHF, and/or MILSATCOM
• SysML implementation using Cameo, Magic Draw, or Rhapsody
• Experience with DOORS or similar requirements management tools
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies in a systems context
• Working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Experience communicating with external customers and government stakeholders
• Participation in capture planning, proposal reviews, and competitive assessments
• Experience with peer reviews, configuration management, and change control processes

Benefits

• 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 including 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
• May be eligible for Relocation

About Collins Aerospace Mission Systems

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow.

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.

Additional Information

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 adjustments to this timeline