Senior Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems (ONSITE)

RTX; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 96,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) plan with employer matching

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking aSenior Systems Engineer to join the Athena Control Systems Team in a safety-critical role. You will help design, certify and maintain systems for manned and unmanned platforms, leading integration efforts and driving verification across hardware-in-the-loop environments.

The role emphasizes development of certified safety-critical software, lab testing, and on-target hardware work, with onsite requirements in Sterling, VA and up to 15% travel.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in aerospace or related industry with vehicle control.
• Experience with Systems Engineering discipline and Requirements Based Development.
• Familiarity with Jira, Subversion/Git and version management toolsets.
• Typically a STEM degree with 5+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree with 3+ years.

Responsibilities

• Lead and participate in design and program reviews to meet milestones.
• Write integration and test plans and lead verification testing.
• Lead engineering planning for multi-disciplinary teams.
• Work on multiple programs concurrently and communicate status to stakeholders.
• Support verification, traceability of requirements, and peer reviews.
• Assist in improving development processes and tools.
• Travel up to 15% as required.

Skills

Aerospace domain knowledge

Systems engineering

Requirements management

Lab testing / hardware-in-the-loop

Embedded systems experience

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree (optional)

Tools

Jira

Subversion

Git

Version management

Job description

Date Posted:2026-09-22Country:United States of America

Location:US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

Position Role Type:Onsite

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

DoD Clearance: Secret

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1Collins 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.

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and desire to join the Athena Control Systems Team. With a wide variety of Flight Controls, Autopilot, Engine Control, Sensing and Estimation products, the Athena Controls System Team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems that serve manned and unmanned systems for commercial and military customers. As a Senior Systems Engineer on the Athena Control Systems Team, you will be leading the development, certification, and maintenance of systems for safety-critical commercial and military applications. In this role, you'll work with a team of highly motivated world class engineers, ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

The ideal candidate for this role has a Software or Electrical Engineering background, experience using MATLAB or other tools to run software in the loop testing and analyze data, experience running on target hardware in the loops simulations, experience with developing certified safety critical systems, experience with system integration testing on hardware in a lab environment and experience with manufacturing and production of embedded electronics systems.

https://www.rtx.com/collinsaerospace/what-we-do/industries/military-and-defense/navigation/airborne-products/attitude-and-heading-reference-system/athena-gs111r-uas-autopilot-adahrs-pnt-hub

What You Will Do

• Lead and participate in design and program reviews to ensure team progress against milestones are met and track project schedules
• Write integration and test plans; conduct and lead integration and verification testing to deliver safe high-quality solutions
• Lead and participate in the engineering bid and planning process for a multi-disciplinary engineering team
• Work on multiple programs simultaneously
• Provide communication and status to relevant stakeholders
• Support verification and traceability of the system requirements
• Support peer reviews on test procedures & design documentation
• Help drive resolution for technical issues through problem-solving and coordination across impacted teams and subject matter experts
• Opportunity to help improve our development processes and tools
• This position will require up to 15% travel

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

Qualifications You Must Have

• Knowledge and experience with the aerospace or related industry, vehicle control, algorithm development, and experience with development and testing in a lab environment
• Experience with Systems Engineering Discipline working with Requirements Based Development and Requirements Management Tools
• Experience with development tool sets, for example, Jira, Subversion/Git/Version Management
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with software development with C/C++, embedded systems and real time operating systems
• Experience with circuit design, testing units and systems in a lab environment and design and production phases of product development
• Experience with embedded communications protocols, antennas and Flight Dynamics for Rotary and Fixed Wing Platforms
• Experience in DO-178B/C processes (or similar safety-critical software development guidelines)
• Experience troubleshooting and finding solutions for test equipment and automated test failures

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!

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.

Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to 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. *

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.

Employee Referral Eligible

MISENG

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attendselect 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 95,500 USD - 181,700 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. Privacy Policy and Terms:Click on this link to read the Policy and Terms