Principal Systems Engineer - Secure Systems (Active Clearance)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement program

Student loan repayment program

Life insurance and disability coverage

Wellness rewards program

Job summary

Prattwhitney is seeking an experienced Systems Engineering professional in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, focused on developing military products ensuring secure communication. The role involves collaboration with multi-disciplinary engineering teams and requires U.S. citizenship and a secret security clearance.

Candidates should have a degree in STEM and relevant experience in systems development. Benefits include medical insurance and a generous 401(k) plan with employer matching.

Qualifications

• Typically requires minimum 8 years relevant experience or 5 years with an advanced degree.
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance required.
• Experience with requirements capture, design, integration, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Perform analyses, architecture, and design at all system product levels.
• Translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
• Develop verification criteria and plans for the requirements.

Skills

Systems development process knowledge

Strong communication skills

Experience with Cryptographic Hardware

Familiarity with Scaled Agile framework

Software languages: Rust and Python

Education

Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)

Tools

DOORS

CAMEO

Job description

Job Overview

Date Posted: 2026-04-08 • Country: United States of America • Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137 • Position: Onsite • Security Clearance: Secret • U.S. Citizenship required.

Our nation's security depends on the sacrifice of the men and women who defend our country. For them to do this effectively, they need the technology that keeps them a step ahead of their adversaries. This position is for an experienced Systems Engineering professional who will design and develop military products ensuring safe and protected communication. You will work with multi‑disciplinary engineering teams to create total system solutions that address both domestic and international customer needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform analyses, architecture, and design at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.
• Perform functional analyses, 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.

What You Will Learn

You will gain technical leadership experience, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to very influential individuals within Mission Systems that will help advance your career. You will obtain invaluable experience working with our subject matter experts in addition to security and crypto certification specialists, our customer base, and cross‑functional integrated product teams. You will become knowledgeable in security‑hardened products with exposure to the variety of business and products in an ever‑evolving field.

Qualifications

• 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 issued secret security clearance required prior to start date.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework.
• Exceptionally strong communication skills, 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.
• Software languages such as Rust and Python.
• Experience with Hardware and Software Integration, Validation & Verification Testing, and Qualification Testing.

Benefits

• 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 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, 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!

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.