Principal Systems Engineer (ONSITE)

globalhr; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Three weeks vacation plus holidays

401(k) with matching and retirement

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Principal Systems Engineer for the JPALS group in Cedar Rapids. You will design, test, and integrate GPS/landing systems, spending significant time in a lab with hands-on equipment and interfacing with cross-functional teams.

The role requires an active SECRET clearance, U.S. citizenship, STEM degree, and 8+ years of relevant experience. Relocation assistance is available and the environment embraces cutting‑edge aerospace tech.

Qualifications

• GPS test engineer with SGSU V3 experience.
• Automation and test execution skills and ability to troubleshoot algorithms prior to software release.
• Familiarity with GPS architecture, performance specs, and test methodologies.
• Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship required for security clearance eligibility
• Typically requires a STEM degree with 8+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree with 5+ years

Responsibilities

• Designs brand-new Precision Approach and Landing equipment.
• Performs hands-on lab testing and analyses.
• Reviews mechanical drawings and schematics.
• Translates customer requirements into hardware and software specs.
• Performs system integration, verification, validation, and risk analyses.
• Coordinates with cross-functional teams to complete projects on schedule.

Skills

GPS test engineer

Automation and testing

GPS architecture

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree (optional)

Tools

SGSU V3

Lab testing equipment

Military radios

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-19

Country: United States of America

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-130 ~ 5350 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 130

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type: Secret - Current

Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on 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.

The Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS) group, working on every aspect of guiding airplanes safely to the deck, is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and the desire to join the JPALSteam within Precision Navigation.

This engineer will be asked to contribute to a variety of components including, but not limited to: datalink/communications, Position and Time sensors, customer hardware lab testing, military radios, antennas, etc. The possible activities may span the entirety of Engineering Development Lifecycle, including Design, Requirements, Validation & Verification, and Integration & Testing. A large portion of the day will be spent in the lab with hands-on equipment. With the full array of Precision Landing-enabling functionalities, the team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems and producing products that serve the Land, Sea and Airborne domains. Datalinks, Airborne computing, data processing and GPS Sensor Systems are just some of the sub-products that make up the product line.

What You Will Do

• Be involved in the design of brand-new Precision Approach and Landing equipment
• Perform hands‑on testing in a lab environment
• Ability to create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics
• Assist in performing analysis at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal
• Help perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems
• Assist with managing configuration process, perform functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications
• Assist with decomposing customer specifications and system level requirements into sub‑system and piece part requirements and generates verification criteria and plans for the requirements
• Ability to create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics
• Coordinate with cross‑functional team members to complete assignments & projects as defined and on schedule

Qualifications You Must Have

• In depth experience as a GPS test engineer and highly skilled in the development and integration on the Ship Global Positioning System Sensor Unit (SGSU) V3
• Must be highly skilled in automation and test execution, as well as skilled in the creation and troubleshooting of algorithm software prior to software release
• Familiarity with GPS architecture and design, performance specifications, and test methodologies
• Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• 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

• Strong experience in a lab environment and with troubleshooting customer hardware products
• Ability to update lab test documentation to adhere to customer requirements
• Ability to create a qualification test report to document lab testing done for customer requirements
• Experience investigating product defects, including those on advanced radio communications equipment and avionics LRUs

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
• 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
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

The salary range for this role is 107,500 USD - 204,500 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.

Employee Referral Eligible