Principal Systems Engineer - Secure Systems

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 107,500 - 204,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Generous 401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance and disability coverage

Job summary

Prattwhitney seeks an experienced Systems Engineer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to support military product development, ensuring secure communication. This role involves collaborating with diverse engineering teams to create comprehensive system solutions that meet both domestic and international requirements.

The ideal candidate holds a degree in STEM with significant experience in systems development and is capable of obtaining a U.S. security clearance. The position offers a competitive salary and extensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years experience or 5 years with advanced degree.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. government-issued security clearance.
• Experience with requirements capture and design.

Responsibilities

• Perform analysis, architecture, and design on all system levels.
• Conduct functional analysis and requirements allocation.
• Develop verification criteria for system requirements.
• Engage in technical planning and integration processes.
• Participate in bid and proposal efforts.

Skills

Systems development process

Security clearance

Communication skills

Integration and validation testing

Experience with Rust and Python

Education

Degree in STEM

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-04-06 Country: United States of America

Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137

Role Type: Onsite

Security Clearance: Secret DoD Clearance required. U.S. citizenship required.

Job Overview

This position is for an experienced Systems Engineering professional in the Mission Systems Secure Systems Department. As a Systems Engineer, you will design and develop military products ensuring safe and protected communication. You will interface with multi‑discipline engineering teams to create total system solutions, addressing both domestic and international customer needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform analysis, architecture and design at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.
• Perform functional analysis, trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
• Provide analyses for the decomposition of customer specifications and system level requirements into sub‑system and piece‑part requirements, and develop verification criteria and plans for the requirements.
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total system solutions.
• Perform bid and proposal efforts.

Required Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years of experience.
• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, verification/validation, and transition to production.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government‑issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework.
• Exceptional communication skills and experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership.
• Experience with cryptographic hardware architecture/design, network encryption specifications and test methodologies.
• Experience with tools such as DOORS, CAMEO or similar.
• Experience with software languages such as Rust and Python.
• Experience with hardware and software integration, validation & verification testing, and qualification testing.

Compensation

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

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching 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: 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 and wellness rewards program
• Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
• Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
• Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
• Relocation assistance

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 Section503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.