Senior Systems Engineer – JPALS Precision Approach and Landing (ONSITE)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment

401(k) with employer match

Life Insurance

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, seeks a Senior Systems Engineer for the JPALS group in Cedar Rapids. You will contribute to datalink sensors, navigation algorithms, and GPS sensor systems across engineering lifecycle. A significant portion of time is in the lab with hands-on equipment.

The role involves design, requirements, validation, and integration activities, plus cross-functional coordination to meet project goals. A DoD security clearance is a prerequisite.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Systems Engineering discipline.
• Experience testing GPS functionality.
• Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture and test methods.
• Experience troubleshooting lab failures.
• Experience investigating defects in avionics equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design brand-new Precision Approach and Landing equipment.
• Perform hands-on lab testing.
• Create and review drawings and schematics.
• Debug RTOS software.
• Support system integration, verification, and validation.

Skills

Systems Engineering

GPS testing

Radio transceiver design

Troubleshooting lab failures

Requirements allocation

Education

STEM degree

Advanced degree

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-08 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-130 ~ 5350 C Ave NE ~ BLDG 130 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. Do you want to be part of a team that expects to win every time we take to the air?

The Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS) group, working on every aspect of guiding airplanes safely to the deck, is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and the desire to join the JPALS team within Precision Navigation.

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.

The salary range for this role is 86,800 USD - 165,200 USD.

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.

What You Will Do

• Be involved in the design of brand-new Precision Approach and Landing equipment
• Perform hands‑on testing in a lab environment
• Ability to create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics
• Debug Real Time Operating System Software
• Assist in performing analysis at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal
• Help perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total systems
• Assist with managing configuration process, perform functional analysis, timeline analysis, detail trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications
• Assist with decomposing customer specifications and system-level requirements into sub‑system and piece‑part requirements and generates verification criteria and plans for the requirements
• Ability to create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics
• Coordinate with cross‑functional team members to complete assignments & projects as defined and on schedule

Qualifications You Must Have

• Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering Discipline
• Knowledge of testing GPS functionality
• Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture/design, basic radio functional component blocks, performance specifications, and test methodologies
• Knowledge of high‑assurance documentation
• Experience troubleshooting lab failures
• Experience investigating product defects, including those on the advanced radio communications equipment and avionics LRUs
• 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

• Ability to read and debug low level software code
• Novice abilities in MATLAB, Simulink, or other Model Based Systems Engineering toolset

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
• This position is eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

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 RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.