Principal Systems Engineer - (Onsite)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Vacation time – 3 weeks

401(k) with employer matching

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace seeks a Principal Systems Engineer (onsite) in Sterling, VA to support Mission Simulation programs. Role involves leading requirements, test plans, and cross-discipline collaboration for DoD customers. DoD Secret clearance day 1 and U.S. citizenship required.

The role emphasizes system/trade studies, verification, and documentation readiness, with a strong focus on MIL/ARINC/RTCA standards and architectural design reviews.

Qualifications

• Requires DoD Secret security clearance Day 1.
• Active and transferable U.S. government DoD clearance is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance eligibility.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience or 5 years with an advanced degree.
• Onsite role based in Sterling, VA.

Responsibilities

• Develop verifiable system level requirements and decompose to HW/SW disciplines.
• Create test plans and procedures; use test equipment to verify requirements.
• Maintain requirements metrics and manage documentation for IPT.
• Lead technical reviews (TRR, PDR, CDR) and program health reporting.
• Collaborate across disciplines to ensure system performance and traceability.
• Contribute to IMS task status and schedule communication.

Skills

SE fundamentals

System functionality

Block diagrams

Requirements analysis

HW/SW integration

MIL-STD-810

MIL-STD-461

MIL-STD-704

ARINC/RTCA standards

Requirements management

EVMS/ETCs/ECPs

Test equipment/tools

Technical reviews

Production readiness

STEM degree

Security clearance

US citizenship

Education

STEM degree or higher

Advanced degree +5 years

Tools

DOORS

JAMA

Python scripts

Job description

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

Date Posted: 2026-08-28

Country: United States of America

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

Principal Systems Engineer - (Onsite)

At RTX, the world 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.

At Collins Aerospace, we’re working side‑by‑side with our customers and partners to dream, design, and deliver solutions that redefine the future of our industry. By reaching across the markets, we serve and drawing on our vast portfolio of expertise, we are making the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality every day. As the industry faces new challenges and embraces new technologies, Collins is collaborating and innovating with our customers to bring big ideas to life. And together, we're redefining the future of aerospace.

Role Description

The Mission Simulation group within the Strategic Defense Solutions organization is hiring a Principal Systems Engineer to join our Mission Systems organization in support of our simulation and training solutions programs. The Mission Systems organization is an exciting and challenging environment where you will have the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines to shape innovative solutions for our US customers.

This position requires: US Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Security Clearance Day 1.

Onsite: This is an onsite role supporting our Sterling, VA location.

Sign‑on Bonus Eligible

What YOU will do

• Develop verifiable system level requirement; decompose customer requirements into lower-level system requirements and allocate to the right discipline (HW/SW)
• Develop/execute test plans, verification and or acceptance test procedures, development of scripts as well as utilization/configuration of test equipment and tools to verify system requirements and prove compliance
• Collaborate with the program team and the customer to produce baseline requirements and our established verification methods to achieve customer acceptance and to also keep track of requirements volatility
• Manage updates and timely release of CDRLs/SDRLs, contributing to improvement in documentation cycle time and customer satisfaction
• Contribute to technical interchange meetings and design reviews (TRR, PDR, CDR). Define, maintain, and report appropriate requirements metrics to the IPT to address program health concerns
• Provide verbal and written status on assigned Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) tasks

Qualifications You Must Have

• Working knowledge of SE fundamentals with ability to work with all engineering disciplines and program management
• Experience system functionality, creating block diagrams, and analyzing system performance via analysis of customer requirements specification
• Experience working in Development, System Test and Sell‑off, involving Hardware/Software
• Experience of industry standards such as MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑STD‑461, MIL‑STD‑704, for airworthiness, ARINC and RTCA standards are preferred
• Experience in System, Software, and Hardware Requirements management/traceability/allocation
• Familiarity with EVMS, ETCs, and ECPs
• Experience with Test Equipment/Tools, Technical Reviews and Production Readiness
• 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
• Active and transferable U.S. Government DoD issued Secret Security Clearance is required prior to start date.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• Minimum 10 years of experience in one or more of the following technical domains: modeling and simulation, training devices, aerodynamics, flight controls
• Familiarity in sub system or systems architecting and system‑of‑systems definition
• Development of Python scripts
• Working knowledge of Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
• Proficient in DOORS and/or JAMA
• Experience in Agile development and usage of Agile framework tools such as JIRA/Confluence

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
• Eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

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.