Principal Software Engineer - Radar Modeling (Onsite)

Collins Aerospace; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Life insurance and disability

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, a leader in radar modeling, seeks a Principal Software Engineer to advance high‑fidelity radar models for flight simulators. Onsite at Sterling, VA, you will drive software design, integration, and testing of real‑time, multi‑threaded systems in distributed environments.

You will lead radar software development with C/C++ expertise, collaborate across teams, and contribute to ICDs and data standards for model accuracy and performance.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) or advanced related degree.
• Must be able to obtain DoD security clearance; US citizenship required.
• Extensive radar software development experience for simulation.
• Proven leadership in a team delivering complex technical solutions.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and object‑oriented programming.

Responsibilities

• Support high‑fidelity radar models in flight simulation training systems.
• Build, update and maintain radar models in host simulation code.
• Integrate with distributed simulation environments.
• Maintain and enhance existing radar software products.
• Design, develop, test and debug real‑time, multi‑threaded software and APIs.
• May manage small projects or processes.
• Implement data standards for specific radar models.

Skills

C/C++

Object‑Oriented

Radar software

Leadership

Security clearance

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Interface Control Documents (ICD)

Job description

Location: US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Country: United States of America

Location: US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

Position Role Type: Onsite

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

Principal Software Engineer - Radar Modeling (Onsite)

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.

Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

What You Will Do:

• Support high-fidelity radar models in flight simulation training systems.
• Build, update and maintain different types of radar models through software engineering in the host simulation code.
• Integrate with distributed simulation environments.
• Support, maintain, and enhance existing radar software products.
• Design, develop, test, and debug real-time, multi-threaded software, distributed applications, and APIs for simulation and training.
• May manage small projects or processes.
• Implement data standards based on specific radar models.

What You Will Learn:

• Strategies for optimizing software performance and scalability in large, complex systems.
• Software architecture related to radar models and software simulation applications.
• Designing, implementing and integrating a variety of radar models to multiple Radar Simulation Systems for different platforms.
• The latest in radar technologies.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• 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
• Must have or be capable of obtaining a US Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance. Candidate selected will be subject to a government security investigation/reinstatement and must meet eligibility requirements
• Extensive experience with radar software development and radar concepts for simulation.
• Proven leadership experience in a team environment, driving creative solutions to complex technical problems.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Object-Oriented programming.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience working on bids and proposals.
• Ability to interpret engineering specifications for real radar systems and translate them into software models.
• Ability to work with large, existing codebases and mission‑critical software.
• Need to know how Radar Simulation Systems (RSS) databases work including how data is structured, how to query it, and how it drives the radar model.
• Experience with using and creating Interface Control Documents (ICD) to establish the content and format of all host/RSS interface data.
• Need to know how RSS data flows into the radar pipeline.
• Experience with Air-Ground modes such as:
• Real Beam Ground Map (RBGM).
• GMTI (Ground Mapping Target Indication).
• SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar).
• DBS (Doppler Beam Sharpening).
• AGR (Air to Ground Ranging)
• Experience with Air-Sea Modes such as:
• Sea Surface Search (SSS)
• Experience with Interleaved modes.
• Expertise in packet/network analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark).
• Support system integration, test events, and customer reviews.
• Strong software architecture skills with the ability to design modular, scalable, high-performance systems for real-time simulation.
• Deep understanding of radar systems: signal propagation, resolution, Doppler, clutter, Radar Cross Section (RCS), antenna patterns, attenuation, range bins, azimuth bins, etc.
• Familiarity and experience with Operational Flight Program (OFP) core software that is used in both a Full Mission Simulator (FMS) and Operational Flight Trainer (OFT).
• Agile methodology.
• Software development for automated unit testing.

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. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

What We Offer:

Some of our competitive benefits package includes:

• 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 illnessinsurance, 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
• Eligible for relocation assistance
• 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 118,300 USD - 224,900 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.