Senior Systems Engineer - HW/SW Integration (ONSITE)

RTX; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

3 weeks vacation

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

RTX is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer in Cedar Rapids to lead the development and sustainment of avionics communication products. You will decompose requirements, design integrations, and perform hands-on software/hardware testing in lab and flight-like environments.

The role emphasizes system-level verification, root-cause analysis, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable avionics solutions for fielded products.

Qualifications

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) with 5+ years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with 3+ years.
• Experience decomposing system-level requirements and allocating to subsystems.
• Experience integrating software/hardware in target hardware and lab environments.
• Ability to perform system integration testing and troubleshoot interfaces.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop product-level requirements from customer specs; decompose for software/hardware.
• Define verification strategies and create test plans and reports.
• Perform hands-on integration of software, embedded software, and hardware.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software interfaces and use lab tools for root-cause analysis.
• Communicate findings to stakeholders across teams.

Skills

System-level requirements

System design

Subsystem verification

Troubleshooting

Analytical skills

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

Wireshark

Jira

DOORS

Jama

Cameo

Git

Bitbucket

Jenkins

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-07-06

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-131 ~ 5450 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 131

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

The company will offer immigration sponsorship for this position, if needed. The company will not seek an export authorization for this role.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

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 is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer to support the development and sustainment of communication products. The engineer who fills this position must demonstrate a high level of professional competence and knowledge of the principles and techniques commonly used in systems development, integration, verification, and qualification related to avionics. The selected candidate will perform assignments requiring the use and application of systems engineering principles and techniques for the integration of hardware and software. This role will require hands‑on software integration testing on target hardware, troubleshooting across hardware/software interfaces, and supporting both development and fielded product sustainment. The engineer who fills this position must also have strong design, analytical, and problem‑solving skills for both hardware and software.

This is an onsite position based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

What you will do:

• Develop product-level requirements from customer and industry specifications. Further decompose requirements to support both software and hardware development.
• Perform trade studies to support and optimize the technical solution and requirements.
• Define integration and verification strategies for avionic functions and products, create test plans, test cases and procedures, execute system verification, and create test reports.
• Perform hands‑on integration of software applications, embedded software, system software, and hardware in a laboratory environment.
• Execute software integration testing on engineering development units, flight‑like hardware, production hardware, and/or hardware‑in‑the‑loop test benches.
• Troubleshoot and debug integration issues across hardware, software, firmware, operating systems, drivers, and external interfaces.
• Use lab equipment and engineering tools to support integration, verification, failure investigation, and root‑cause analysis.
• Analyze data gathered and develop solutions or alternative methods of proceeding to optimize performance and increase efficiencies in development activities.
• Communicate effectively to a host of stakeholders across the technical spectrum, including customers, program management, senior leadership, and functional teams.
• Provide technical support for fielded avionics systems through troubleshooting, root‑cause analysis, engineering changes, and lifecycle sustainment activities.

Qualifications you must have:

• 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
• Experience with system‑level requirements decomposition and analysis, system design and allocation to subsystems/products, system integration planning and execution, and system‑level verification and validation.
• Experience integrating software applications, embedded software, or system software onto target hardware platforms.
• Experience developing, executing, and troubleshooting system integration test procedures in a lab or hardware‑in‑the‑loop environment.
• Experience debugging integration issues across hardware, software, firmware, operating systems, drivers, and external interfaces.
• Experience supporting root‑cause analysis, failure investigation, defect resolution, and verification closure for complex electronic systems.
• Ability to read and interpret system architecture diagrams, electrical schematics, interface control documents, software requirements, and test documentation.
• Experience documenting technical findings, test results, problem reports, and engineering recommendations in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to isolate issues in complex hardware/software systems.

Qualifications we prefer:

• Working knowledge of common communication interfaces and protocols for avionics/data interfaces.
• Experience with avionics communication systems, aircraft data networks, airborne routers, data loaders, wireless systems, or connected aircraft products.
• Working knowledge of avionics regulations and certification standards including TSO, PMA, STC, DO‑160, DO‑254, DO‑356 and DO‑178B/C.
• Experience with hardware/software integration on embedded Linux, Windows, real‑time operating systems, or other embedded computing platforms.
• Experience with scripting or automation tools to support test execution, data collection, and analysis such as Python, Robot Framework, etc.
• Experience with networking concepts including TCP/IP, UDP, VLANs, routing, switching, packet‑capture, Wi‑Fi, cellular, or SATCOM‑related interfaces.
• Experience using tools such as Wireshark, Jira, DOORS, Jama, Cameo, Git, Bitbucket, Jenkins, or similar engineering development tools.
• Experience using test equipment and lab tools such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, power supplies, network analyzers, or similar equipment to support hardware/software troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting formal qualification, certification or production transition activities for aerospace or other regulated products.
• Experience performing integration testing using engineering development units, flight‑like hardware, production hardware, or hardware‑in‑the‑loop test benches.
• Experience troubleshooting board‑level or system‑level issues involving power, boot‑up, interfaces, timing, thermal behavior, signal integrity, or environmental performance.
• Experience coordinating with software, hardware, systems, test, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and program teams to resolve technical issues.
• Experience supporting fielded product investigations, customer‑reported issues, engineering change proposals, and sustainment of released products.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams using both Agile and waterfall development methods.
• Exhibiting strong team skills working with both domestic and international team members.
• Effective time management and ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision.
• Familiarity with model‑based systems engineering, MBSE, tools.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity, secure boot, software loading, configuration management, or data integrity considerations for connected avionics products.
• Familiarity with aircraft installation, aircraft interfaces, airline operations, or avionics maintenance concepts.

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
• 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
• 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. Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in‑person meetings.

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 86,800 USD - 165,200 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.

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