Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Datalinks

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Student loan repayment

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking a Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Datalinks in Cedar Rapids, IA. The role spans datalink/communications, sensors, and algorithms with hands-on lab work and lifecycle involvement from design to integration.

You will interface across disciplines and lead system-level activities in a dynamic environment. The role requires DoD Secret clearance, extensive systems engineering background, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to meet program

Qualifications

• Requires STEM degree and 10+ years experience or an advanced degree with 7+ years experience
• Experience coordinating cross-functional engineering activities and driving execution
• Experience with system/interface definitions across platform hardware software and firmware

Responsibilities

• Participate in multi-discipline engineering team and provide system interface engineering disciplines
• Lead a Systems team as a Technical Project Manager guiding them through decisions and interfacing with PM and Leadership
• Be a Cost Account Management for various engineering integration and qualification activities
• Contribute to all phases of the systems engineering lifecycle including trade studies, architecture, requirements, traceability, integration, verification and certification
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure successful execution of key program milestones
• Provide systems engineering support to bids and proposals, contributing to technical strategy and solution development

Skills

System engineering

Technical leadership

Technical Project Manager

Cost Account Management

Requirements analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Lab testing & integration

Communications to leadership

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Advanced degree (MS/PhD)

Tools

Subversion

Jira

Jama/DOORS

MS Office

Job description

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

Date Posted: 2026-09-02

Country: United States of America

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

Position Role Type: Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements: The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Security Clearance Type: DoD Clearance: Secret

Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, 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.

We are looking for a Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Datalinks to join our team in Cedar Rapids, IA. This engineer will be asked to contribute to a variety of components including, but not limited to: datalink/communications, Position and Time sensors, Navigation Algorithms, Modeling, Antennas, etc. The possible activities may span the entirety of Engineering Development Lifecycle, including Design, Requirements, Validation & Verification, and Integration. A large portion of the day will be spent in the lab with hands‑on equipment. With the full array of Precision Landing- enabling functionalities, the team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems and producing products that serve the Land, Sea and Airborne domains. Datalinks, Airborne computing, data processing and GPS Sensor Systems are just some of the sub-products that make up the product line.

What You Will Do

• Participate in multi-discipline engineering team and provide system interface engineering disciplines including platform, hardware, software, firmware, mechanical, reliability/maintainability, safety, test equipment, environmental effects (EMI/EMC engineering, ESD, Radiation, and Dynamics), producibility, and manufacturing
• Lead a Systems team as a Technical Project Manager (TPM) guiding them through decisions and interfacing with Program Management (PM) and Leadership
• Be a Cost Account Management for various engineering integration and qualification activities
• Contribute to all phases of the systems engineering lifecycle, including trade studies, system architecture, requirements definition and allocation, traceability, integration, verification, qualification, and certification
• Partner with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure successful execution of key program milestones
• Provide systems engineering support to bids and proposals, contributing to technical strategy and solution development

Qualifications You Must Have

• Experience coordinating cross functional engineering activities and drives execution of project plans, consistently delivering assigned system engineering work packages on time and within budget
• Have managed integration and verification planning across teams, achieving on time completion of key engineering milestones and ensuring readiness of test artifacts prior to event start
• 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 Software Defined Radios, including the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) and waveforms
• Familiarity with Communication Systems architecture/design, Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies
• Experience using configuration control tools (e.g., Subversion), defect tracking tools (e.g., Jira), requirements management (e.g., Jama, DOORS), and proficient in the use of MS Office products
• Experience leading others in thinking through a logical, in-depth analysis of a problem or situation
• Exceptionally strong communication skills, experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership

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
• Carrot Health to hormonal 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
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

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.

At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on‑site, hybrid or remote.

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 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.