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

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Generous 401(k) plan with employer 
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Job summary

Collins Aerospace is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS) in Cedar Rapids, IA. The role focuses on design, testing, and integration of precision navigation equipment, including datalinks, GPS sensor systems, and related subsystems.

A lab-focused, hands-on day with cross-functional collaboration is typical. Qualified candidates will contribute to requirements, validation, and verification across the engineering lifecycle, with

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Systems Engineering discipline
• Experience with GPS functionality
• Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture and test methodologies
• High-assurance documentation experience
• Lab troubleshooting experience
• Experience investigating defects in avionics and radio equipment

Responsibilities

• Design and test precision approach and landing equipment in a lab environment
• Create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics
• Debug real-time operating system software
• Support system-level analyses from concept to disposal
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to meet project schedules

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 JPALSteam 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.

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

Employee Referral Eligible

#MISENG

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.

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 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.