Senior Principal Lead Software Engineer (Onsite)

RTX (Raytheon); Oak Grove (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

Generous 401(k) with employer matching

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Software Engineer in Sterling, VA, onsite to lead a simulation software team and align engineering efforts across disciplines for aircraft simulator training systems. A Secret clearance is required, with a STEM degree and 7–10+ years of experience.

The role emphasizes development of robust software architectures, integration with systems engineering, and risk-aware project execution in a lab-heavy environment.

Qualifications

• Requires active and transferable Secret U.S. government clearance before start date.
• Typically requires a STEM degree with 10+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree with 7+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with Agile methods (Scrum/SAFe) and Agile metrics.
• Experience deploying, configuring, and supporting CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead simulation software team and coordinate with systems engineers.
• Develop, mature, and update software requirements.
• Identify technical risks and dependencies and ensure program execution.
• Support risk and opportunity management, schedules, and cost control.
• Contribute to design of Systems/Software architecture for an aircraft Simulator Training System.

Skills

Agile/Scrum

Earned Value Management

CI/CD pipelines

Security clearance

STEM degree

10+ years experience or advanced deg

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

CORE Simulation Architecture

Ansible

Terraform

Python

Bash

PowerShell

RESTful APIs

Linux/Windows

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-10-13

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: 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

Raytheon Company Managed by Collins Aerospace

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers' toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.

The Strategic Defense Solutions (SDS) portfolio is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Software Engineer professional to join our team in Sterling, VA. In this critical role, you will be part of an innovative team focused on designing and developing software solutions, directly ensuring our customers are prepared for the most vital missions.

Many aspects of the job must be accomplished in a lab environment, so this position requires regular onsite presence at our Sterling, VA site.

Sign On Bonus Eligible

What You Will Do:

• Serve as technical leader for simulation software team, aligning efforts across engineering teams to ensure completion of capabilities within project lifecycle.
• Coordinate with Systems Engineers to develop, mature and update software requirements.
• Identify and manage technical risks and dependencies and ensure seamless program execution.
• Support risk and opportunity management, schedule adherence, and cost control to meet program deliverables and financial objectives.
• Contribute to the design and development of a Systems/Software architecture for an aircraft Simulator Training System.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Experience with Agile Development Methodologies (e.g. Scrum, SAFe), including backlog management, Agile metrics, and Scrum ceremonies.
• Experience utilizing and communicating programmatic Earned Value (EV) and experience as a Cost Account Manager (CAM).
• Experience deploying, configuring, and supporting CI/CD pipelines.
• Active and transferable Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Experience with CORE Simulation (CORESIM) Architecture.
• Experience with automation frameworks such as Ansible, Terraform, etc.
• Experience with server-side scripting languages such as Python, Bash, and PowerShell.
• Experience in microservices using RESTful APIs.
• Experience working in Linux and Windows environments.

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 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!

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions - whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

This is an Onsite role : Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the developm