Senior Principal Engineer, Systems Engineering

Date Posted: 2026-01-06

Country: United States of America

Location: Cedar Rapids, IA — 400 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52498-0505 USA

Position Role Type: Unspecified

Security Clearance: Required

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Non-US Person must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the company's immigration sponsorship now or in the future. The company will not offer immigration sponsorship for this position. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.

About the Role

Rockwell Collins Inc. d/b/a Collins Aerospace has an opening for a Senior Principal Engineer, Systems Engineering in Cedar Rapids, IA. Travel 1-2 times per year to support aircraft ground and/or flight testing at either the customer facility in Wichita, Kansas or a dealer within the United States or Canada.

Joining Collins Aerospace isn't just about finding a job; it's about embarking on a journey to redefine the future of aerospace technology.

What YOU will do

• Perform analysis at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems
• Perform architectural exploration
• Consider and evaluate alternatives accounting for similar metrics
• Manage configuration process, performs functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications
• Ensure the logical and systematic conversion of product requirements into total systems solutions that acknowledge technical, schedule, and cost constraints
• Ensure that all likely aspects of a project or system are considered and integrated into a whole
• Decompose customer specifications and system level requirements into sub-system and piece part requirements and generates verification criteria and plans for the requirements
• Design and manage complex engineering systems over their life cycles
• Establish plans and strategy for requirements management, reliability, logistics, coordination of different teams, evaluation measurements, and other disciplines for large or complex projects
• Coordinate control engineering, industrial engineering, organizational studies, and project management
• Monitor budgets, cost, effectiveness, and reliability of activities and make recommendations to optimize resources prioritize

Qualifications

You Must Have

• Must possess at least a bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field and 10 years of progressive experience as a Systems Engineer or related role in the avionics industry. In the alternative, at least a master's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field and 7 years of experience as a Systems Engineer or related role in the avionics industry would be acceptable
• Must possess at least 6 years of experience leading systems effort for development and/or certification projects
• Must possess at least 6 years of experience utilizing a Systems Integration Facility (SIF) to demonstrate proper system behavior and investigate questions and concerns on system operation
• Must possess at least 4 years of experience serving as systems technical point of contact to a customer, including leading technical discussions and responsibility to deliver both verbal and written communication
• Must possess at least 4 years of experience interpreting and updating aircraft level documentation and publications, including physical interface drawings

About Our Avionics Team

Our Avionics team advances flight deck solutions, airborne communications, vision systems, sensors and fire protection for commercial and military customers around the world. That means we're helping people reach their destination safely and keeping pilots, passengers, flight crews, airlines, airports and military personnel connected and informed. And we're providing industry-leading fire protection and safety systems that our customers can count on when it matters most.

Are you ready to learn from the most knowledgeable experts in the industry, develop the technologies of tomorrow and reach new heights in your career? Join our Avionics team today.

Work Environment

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $124,000.00 to $250,000.00 USD per year

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.

Benefits

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
• 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.

Incentive Compensation

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.

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.

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.

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.

About RTX

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.