Senior Systems Engineer & TPM Lead (Secret Clearance)

Collins Aerospace; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks vacation

Generous 401(k) plan

Job summary

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead next‑generation Open System Architecture product development. This role blends technical leadership with hands‑on systems engineering and will serve as the primary technical focal point for internal leadership and military customers.

You will guide system architecture, lead major design reviews, and mentor junior engineers while managing EVM and government reporting

Qualifications

• Experience with EVM and understanding of government reporting requirements.
• Proven ability to plan and execute engineering work to meet schedule, cost, and performance goals.
• Familiarity with Agile processes and methodologies.
• Experience supporting or integrating systems engineering, software, hardware, and firmware development.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the systems engineering team, including defining scope, breaking down work packages, assigning tasks, coaching junior engineers, and ensuring delivery of high quality engineering artifacts.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for the program, guiding system architecture, major trade studies, requirements development, interface definition, and critical design decisions.
• Lead planning, development, integration, demonstrations, and major engineering events, including PDR, CDR, TRR, and customer technical reviews.
• Plan and execute project level work to meet schedule, cost, and performance objectives, collaborating closely with program management and cross functional engineering teams.
• Provide Earned Value Management (EVM) analysis and support government reporting requirements.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate technical risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive resolution and communication.
• Support hands‑on execution when necessary, including completing engineering tasks, participating in lab and field integration events, or stepping in to deliver technical demonstrations.
• Lead effective multidisciplinary working sessions and trade studies, facilitating decision‑making and driving alignment across systems, hardware, software, and firmware teams.
• Influence technical and operational policies, working across organizational boundaries to shape practices and engineering processes.
• Coach, mentor, and review work of lower‑level professionals, fostering technical growth and a strong team culture.
• Up to 25% Travel Required

Skills

EVM & reporting

Engineering execution

Agile methodologies

Systems integration

Security clearance

Education

STEM degree required

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MS Project

Confluence

JIRA

Job description

Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead next‑generation Open System Architecture product development. This role blends technical leadership with hands‑on systems engineering and will serve as the primary technical focal point for internal leadership and military customers.

You will guide system architecture, lead major design reviews, and mentor junior engineers while managing EVM and government reporting