Senior Principal Systems Engineer (Contingent)- Onsite

Prattwhitney; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Relocation assistance may be provided

Job summary

Collins Aerospace seeks a Senior Principal Systems Engineer to provide technical leadership as Lead Systems Engineer/Chief Architect for the AF DCGS High Band Mission Applications Software Sustainment and Development program in Aurora, CO.

You will direct enterprise systems engineering, end-to-end mission data flows, cloud deployment patterns, security controls, and cross-team coordination with software, cyber, DevSecOps, test, and data engineering groups.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in systems engineering: requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification.
• Lead Systems Engineer, Architect, or technical lead for distributed or cloud native systems.
• Coordinate across complex engineering disciplines and stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of interface, configuration management, and secure by design principles.
• Experience with cloud based or distributed systems, containerization, orchestration, and related technologies.
• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and 10 years of experience, orAdvanced degree and 7 years of experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and technical roadmap for the program, aligning software, cyber, DevSecOps, and data engineering teams.
• Oversee requirements decomposition, traceability, and validation of end-to-end systems.
• Guide verification strategies, test procedures, and automated tests.
• Resolve interface issues and lead interface control working groups.
• Ensure cybersecurity and mission assurance requirements are met.
• Mentor systems engineers and solution architects to grow SE capabilities.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Cross-disciplinary coordination

Security by design

Cloud/distributed systems

STEM degree

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Kubernetes

Docker

Managed cloud services

CI/CD pipelines

Observability tools

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-14 Country: United States of America Location: US-CO-AURORA-S75 ~ 16800 E Centretech Pkwy ~ BLDG S75 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: TS/SCI - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1 Raytheon Company, Managed by Collins Aerospace At RTX, the world's 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. Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking an experienced Senior Principal Systems Engineer to perform the Lead Systems Engineer / Chief Architect role providing technical leadership for the AF DCGS High Band Mission Applications Software (HBMAS) Sustainment and Development program in Aurora, CO. The role focuses on leading enterprise level systems engineering and architectural direction across requirements, end to end mission data flows, cloud enabled deployment patterns, security controls, integration, verification, and technical baseline management. The team designs and tests enhancements to cloud enabled mission systems responsible for ingesting, tagging, securing, and auditing mission data while ensuring security, integrity, and availability. Work is performed using modern agile methods in close collaboration with customer, operational, and multidiscipline engineering stakeholders. Position includes occasional CONUS/OCONUS travel (up to 25%). An active and transferable U.S. government issued TS/SCI clearance is required prior to start date.

What You Will Do:

Technical Leadership & Architecture

• Establish and lead the program’s systems architecture, technical roadmap, and modernization strategy
• Refine architectures, interfaces, and end to end mission data flows; drive consistency across engineering teams
• Lead decisions on cloud native deployment patterns, containerization, orchestration, cybersecurity controls, and resilience
• Own system baselines and ensure alignment across software, cyber, DevSecOps, test, and data engineering teams
• Define and interpret complex acceptance criteria, mission workflows, and operational constraints for engineering teams

Systems Engineering Execution

• Lead requirements decomposition, traceability, and end to end technical validation
• Oversee integration and verification of distributed, cloud enabled mission applications
• Guide development and review of verification strategies, test procedures, automated test scripts, and demonstrations
• Resolve interface issues and lead interface control working groups
• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity and mission assurance requirements

Stakeholder Engagement & Cross Program Coordination

• Lead technical discussions with customers, operators, and cross program partners
• Represent the program in technical reviews, engineering boards, and architectural working groups
• Provide technical decisions and direction as the senior engineering authority for the program
• Mentor systems engineers, solution architects, and product owners; support growth of SE discipline knowledge

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Extensive experience in systems engineering: requirements, architecture, interfaces, integration, verification
• Demonstrated experience as a Lead Systems Engineer, Architect, or technical lead for distributed or cloud native systems
• Proven ability to coordinate across complex engineering disciplines and stakeholder groups
• Strong understanding of interface, configuration management, and secure by design principles
• Experience with cloud based or distributed systems, containerization, orchestration, and related technologies
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and 7 years of experience
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued TS/SCI clearance is required prior to start date.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications :

• CompTIA Security+
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, managed cloud services, and automated deployment pipelines
• Familiarity with DevSecOps pipelines, automated testing, CI/CD, observability, and monitoring tools
• Knowledge of DoD mission systems, cybersecurity requirements, zero trust principles, and mission assurance methodologies
• Experience leading technical baseline management and architecture for largescale mission systems

What we offer:

Some of our competitive benefits packages include:

• 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 coverage: you can purchase 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
• Relocation assistance may be provided
• And more!

Salary

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 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 incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.

Additional Process Notes

Please consider the following role type definitions as you apply for this role. Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

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.