Associate Director, Advanced System Tools - Software Architect (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 157,200 - 298,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking a highly experienced Solutions Architect (Associate Director) to lead architecture, design, and integration of next‑gen software and system development kits, focusing on Virtual System Test Rigs.

The ideal candidate will guide architecture governance, drive system integration, and partner with Product Management and Systems Engineering to advance product roadmaps and verification of solutions. Onsite role with domestic travel.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 12+ years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 10 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.
• Experience with avionics and test system architecture.

Responsibilities

• Define Solution Architecture by translating customer, mission, and business needs into scalable solution concepts, reference architectures, and technical roadmaps.
• Lead Architectural Decisions by evaluating trade-offs across performance, safety, cybersecurity, cost, schedule, reliability, and risk while enabling modularity and reuse.
• Drive System Integration by defining system architecture, allocating functions, governing critical interfaces, and ensuring effective system-of-systems integration.
• Provide Technical Governance by establishing architectural standards, reviewing designs for compliance, and managing architecture across multiple programs and product families.
• Align Technology Strategy by partnering with Product Management, Chief Engineers, and Systems Engineering to support product roadmaps, future capabilities, and verification of architectural solutions.

Skills

Avionics experience

System architecture

Leadership experience

Security clearance eligibility

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree in related field

Job description

Location

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-124 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 124

Date Posted

2026-07-27

Country

United States of America

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

Become part of the growing Collins Aerospace Advanced System Tools organization!

This position is for a highly experienced and motivated Solutions Architect (Associate Director) that will be involved in the proposal, architecture, design, implementation, verification, and integration of a wide variety of next generation software and system development kits, specifically Virtual System Test Rigs. As an engineering lead in this organization, you will be employing best practice design methodologies and utilizing emerging technologies to pioneer a new product line from the ground up.

The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of software development practices, system testing, military/commercial certification, and experience leading execution teams. This is an onsite position based in Cedar Rapids, IA.

What You Will Do

• Define Solution Architecture by translating customer, mission, and business needs into scalable solution concepts, reference architectures, and technical roadmaps.
• Lead Architectural Decisions by evaluating trade-offs across performance, safety, cybersecurity, cost, schedule, reliability, and risk while enabling modularity and reuse.
• Drive System Integration by defining system architecture, allocating functions, governing critical interfaces, and ensuring effective system-of-systems integration.
• Provide Technical Governance by establishing architectural standards, reviewing designs for compliance, and managing architecture across multiple programs and product families.
• Align Technology Strategy by partnering with Product Management, Chief Engineers, and Systems Engineering to support product roadmaps, future capabilities, and verification of architectural solutions.

Willingness to travel (domestic and international

What You Will Learn

• Launching, maturing, and scaling a new product line with broad organizational dependencies.
• Defining and designing an enterprise wide systems integration test solution for internal and external stakeholders.
• Defining tooling solutions that support safety critical Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) certification and qualified toolchains.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 12 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 10 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
• Experience with avionics and test system architecture.
• Experience working with Discipline Councils and other Architects.
• Experience with leading DO-178 and DO-330 certification activities for software development
• Experience with interfacing with the wide spectrum of individual contributors to program management and customers.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with military & commercial technical leadership
• Experience with design and development of Flight Management Systems, Flight Displays, Comm/Nav/Surveillance and/or Networking Software (System of Systems).
• Familiar with revision control concepts and tools (e.g. GIT, Subversion, JIRA).
• Expert knowledge of market with the ability to identify best practices and how to best utilize within RTX.

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!

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.

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.

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 157,200 USD - 298,800 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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