Principal Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems (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

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Principal Systems Engineer for the Athena Control Systems Team. The role focuses on leading development, certification, and maintenance of safety-critical systems for military and commercial applications.

You will work with world-class engineers to ensure quality and safety standards are met, applying expertise across dynamics, guidance, control, and perception domains.

Qualifications

• Experience with software development in C/C++, embedded systems and real-time operating systems.
• Experience with development tool sets such as Jira and Git/Subversion for version management.
• Knowledge of aerospace or related industry, vehicle control, algorithm development, and lab testing environments.
• Typically requires STEM degree with 8+ years of experience or advanced degree with 5+ years.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, certification, and maintenance of safety-critical embedded systems.
• Apply knowledge in system dynamics, guidance, control, and perception domains.
• Collaborate with a team to ensure high-quality, safe, and compliant solutions.

Skills

C/C++ development

Embedded systems

RTOS experience

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Jira

Git/Subversion

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-09-22

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

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, 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.

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Principal Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and desire to join the Athena Control Systems Team. With a wide variety of Flight Controls, Autopilot, Engine Control, Sensing and Estimation products, the Athena Controls System Team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems that serve manned and unmanned systems for commercial and military customers. As a Principal Systems Engineer on the Athena Control Systems Team, you will be leading the development, certification, and maintenance of systems for safety-critical commercial and military applications. In this role, you'll work with a team of highly motivated world class engineers, ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

You will be asked to apply your knowledge in the following areas to a variety of products/applications that are relevant to both military and commercial industries:

• System dynamics and state estimation (linear/nonlinear, navigation/PNT, cooperative PNT, distributed PNT, inertial sensor modeling, oscillator modeling)
• Guidance (path planning, mission planning, cooperative teaming, tactical maneuvering)
• Control (Fixed Wing, VTOL, HVTOL, Rotorcraft)
• Perception (Classification, Identification, SLAM, Feature tracking, Automatic Target Recognition)

This role requires a focus on innovation and strong execution with extensive experience developing, integrating and testing software for safety critical embedded systems.

The ideal candidate for this role has an embedded and application software development background, experience using MATLAB or other tools to run software in the loop testing and analyze data, experience running on target hardware in the loops simulations, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with system integration testing on hardware in a lab environment.

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.

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

Qualifications You Must Have

• Experience with software development with C/C++, embedded systems and real time operating systems
• Experience with development tool sets, for example, Jira, Subversion/Git/Version Management
• Knowledge and experience with the aerospace or related industry, vehicle control, algorithm development, and experience with development and testing in a lab environment
• 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

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience evaluating inertial, air data and magnetometer sensors
• Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering Discipline
• Working knowledge and experience with GNSS, DGNSS, RTK and WAAS
• Experience working with Requirements Based Development and Requirements Management Tools
• Experience with embedded communications protocols, antennas and Flight Dynamics for Rotary and Fixed Wing Platforms
• Experience troubleshooting and finding solutions for test equipment and automated test failures
• Experience in developing system level solutions that integrate multiple systems into a single offering

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 illnessinsurance, group legal, ID theft protection
• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
• Carrot Health to hormonal 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
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

#MISENG

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.

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.

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