Sr Principal Systems Engineer / ICT Lead

Collins Aerospace; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 132,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Three weeks of vacation

Generous 401(k) plan with matching

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Life insurance and disability coverage

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Applied Signal Technology seeks a Sr Principal Systems Engineer / ICT Lead to drive full lifecycle development across multiple contracts, ensuring cost, schedule and technical adherence. You will engage in reviews, mentor engineers, and market ICT solutions while coordinating with managers and teams across locations.

Onsite role with potential travel and security clearance requirements. The role requires a STEM degree with 10+ years in engineering leadership, defense/IC experience, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM and 10+ years of relevant experience.
• 8+ years in software engineering leadership, planning and support.
• Experience in telecom, data or wireless communications, networking or DSP.
• Strong systems engineering discipline and adherence to processes.
• Experience guiding projects through the full systems lifecycle.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Lead full product development lifecycle across multiple contracts.
• Ensure development meets costs, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Participate in reviews for new work or enhancements.
• Market ICT products to existing and new customers.
• Collaborate with project managers and engineering teams.
• Maintain quality and configuration management of software products.
• Travel up to 25% domestically to other AST locations and customers.

Skills

STEM degree

Project planning & execution

Software leadership

Systems engineering development

Communication skills

Defense/IC experience

Security clearance TS/SCI

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Git

Jira

Containerization

Cloud technologies

Earned Value Management

Job description

Location

US-UT-WEST VALLEY CITY-338 ~ 1127 & 1128 w 2400 S ~ BLDG 338

Date Posted

2026-07-29

Country

United States of America

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

TS/SCI with Polygraph

Security Clearance Status

Active and existing security clearance required after day 1

Employer

Raytheon Company Managed by Collins Aerospace

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.

About Applied Signal Technology

Applied Signal Technology (AST) is seeking an Sr Principal Systems Engineer / ICT Lead who strives for excellence and has a passion to be part of a team that strengthens our nation and improves the security of our world. AST provides trusted strategic and tactical SIGINT solutions that secure the interests of the U.S. and its partners. AST’s work in areas such as high-capacity broadband communications, signal processing and analysis, tactical SIGINT, and wireless communications continually challenges our extraordinary engineers to solve problems and make the world a safer place. AST’s work environment is passionate and highly collaborative. It provides engineers the freedom to strengthen and expand their skills, explore new and creative ideas, and work closely with our nation’s finest service members all while embracing integrity, innovation, and work-life balance.

This is an ONSITE role that may be based out of our Anaheim Hills, CA; San Jose, CA or Salt Lake City, UT locations. To learn more about Applied Signal Technology, please click the following link - Applied Signal Technology: WHO WE ARE

What You Will Do

• Leading full product development lifecycle of existing products and new capabilities, post-delivery support, and product updates across multiple customer contracts.
• Ensuring development activities satisfy costs, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Participating in internal product development reviews (requirements, design, verification/validation, etc.) of new work products or enhancement of existing applications and systems.
• Marketing the ICT’s products to existing and new customers as AST grows.
• Collaborating with project/program managers and other professionals within Engineering and the divisions.
• Ensuring the ICT follows established development practices and processes to maintain the quality and configuration management of software products.
• This leader will be challenged with significant complexity related to the relationships within AST and within the customer community. They will be empowered to make decisions of significant importance to the joint business interests and will need to work closely with leadership across AST. This position goes beyond acceptance testing and readiness reviews, to include full mission scope, considering dependencies upon technical partners, operational environment and contingency planning.
• May travel up to 25% (domestic to other AST locations and customer sies within the U.S.).

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 10 years of prior relevant experience
• Minimum of 8 years of proven experience with project planning, execution and support in software engineering leadership
• Software/system/product development experience in one of these areas: telecommunications, data communications, wireless communications, communications protocols, networking protocols, and/or digital signal processing
• Demonstrated discipline in engineering development and adherence to established processes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of cost, schedule, and technical integration, including engineering planning and project management systems (IMP/IMS).
• Experience providing technical leadership to engineers throughout the entire systems lifecycle
• Experience tailoring systems engineering processes to specific programs
• Experience in defining and scoping system-level technical efforts from technical tasking and staffing standpoints for bidding, proposal, or program execution activities
• Ability to simultaneously plan and manage time-critical interdependent programs and interface with all customers (internal and external) effectively
• Demonstrated excellent communication, presentation, analytical and problem-solving skills with an attention to details
• Demonstrated leadership skills with ability to manage across multiple disciplines in a development and mission environments
• Team player, ability to work within and across multi-functional groups, organizational boundaries, and geographic locations
• Inclusive management style, able to lead and motivate team members and be comfortable with raising issues in a timely manner
• Minimum of 8 years working in the Defense industry, the Intelligence Community, or with other U.S. Government agencies
• Ability to obtain a U.S. government issued Top Secret/SCI securtiity clearance with polygraph after start.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience in software cost estimation, proposal development, and risk management
• Experience with earned value management
• An advanced program management certification (e.g. PMP, CAPMP, or equivalent)
• Strong emotional intelligence skills (i.e. self-awareness, self-management, empathy, social awareness, relationship management)
• Coaching, teaching and/or mentoring skills
• Excellent track record for working effectively and collaboratively in a multifaceted team environment
• Experience with microservices architecture, distributed systems, containerized deployments, and modern cloud technologies
• Experience in all phases of the software development lifecycle, including Agile methods and/or DevOps/DevSecOps
• Experience with embedded software development and software/hardware integration
• Experience with using configuration management and defect tracking tools (Git, Jira, etc.).
• Understanding of telecommunication systems concepts and/or signal processing fundamentals
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued Top Secret SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance required prior to start date

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
• Eligible for Relocation
• And More!

The salary range for this role is 132,400 USD - 251,600 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.