Sr. Systems Security (Cyber) Engineer (Onsite - Cedar Rapids, IA) Secret Clearance Required

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with employer matching

Tuition reimbursement

Student Loan Repayment Program

Life insurance & disability coverage

Comprehensive wellness programs

Job summary

RTX in Cedar Rapids seeks a Senior Systems Security Engineer to develop, implement, and validate cybersecurity controls across RMF, STIG, and DoD IA processes. You will perform vulnerability assessments, support RMF artifacts, and collaborate with software and systems teams to ensure secure designs and configurations.

The role requires active SECRET clearance with potential Top Secret, DoD certification experience, and strong Linux administration and vulnerability management skills.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 5+ years of experience or an advanced degree with 3+ years of experience.
• Active and transferable SECRET clearance with ability to obtain Top Secret clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required; only U.S. citizens are eligible for security clearances.
• Experience with STIG and RMF.
• Experience with Systems Engineering requirements/specifications.
• Experience implementing DoD IA Certification/Accreditation processes and related documentation.
• Experience with vulnerability scanning tools (Tenable, STIG tools).

Responsibilities

• Support RMF artifacts and security control validation to obtain and maintain ATO.
• Review system changes for cybersecurity impact.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and develop remediation plans.
• Implement and validate security improvements across configurations.
• Develop RMF documentation including risk management artifacts.
• Perform STIG implementation and compliance validation.
• Conduct vulnerability scanning and coordinate remediation.
• Provide Linux administration and cybersecurity support for RHEL and other distros.
• Troubleshoot Linux networking, services, authentication, and SELinux policies.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate cybersecurity requirements into designs.
• Develop mitigation statements and RMF assessment documentation.

Skills

RMF experience

STIG experience

Linux administration

Vulnerability assessment

Security tooling

Education

STEM degree

Tools

Tenable Security Center

STIG Viewer

SCAP Compliance Checker

Job description

Date Posted: 2026-08-10 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: Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Security Clearance Type: Secret - Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

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.

Join our highly visible team and perform technically challenging assignments, which will closely contribute to protecting our nation and our products. We are seeking a Senior Systems Security (Cybersecurity) Engineer to function as a key contributor for the Strategic Solutions Security Engineering team. As a member of the Strategic Solutions Security Engineering (SSE) team, we want you to develop solutions to secure the Warfighter’s technology advantage. Systems Security Engineering creates security solutions leveraging multiple disciplines like Anti-Tamper (AT), Software Assurance, Hardware Assurance, Cryptography, NSA Type 1 Certification and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) to support Program Protection Implementation on various systems. This role will be worked onsite in Cedar Rapids, IA. Relocation assistance is available. Requires an ACTIVE and transferable SECRET clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret clearance after start.

What You Will Do:

• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of Risk Management Framework (RMF) artifacts and security control validation activities required to obtain and maintain an Authority to Operate (ATO).
• Review proposed system changes and evaluate their cybersecurity impact to ensure modifications do not adversely affect system security or accreditation.
• Perform vulnerability assessments, analyze findings, develop mitigation strategies, and document remediation plans.
• Implement and validate security improvements by assessing system configurations, identifying vulnerabilities, and applying security best practices.
• Develop cybersecurity requirements, system security architecture documentation, boundary diagrams, data flow diagrams, hardware/software inventories, and supporting RMF documentation.
• Perform Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) implementation, compliance validation, and remediation using tools such as Evaluate STIG, STIG Viewer, and SCAP Compliance Checker.
• Conduct vulnerability scanning using Tenable Security Center (Tenable.sc) and Nessus, analyze results, and coordinate remediation efforts.
• Provide hands‑on Linux systems administration and cybersecurity support for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)and other Linux distributions.
• Troubleshoot Linux operating system issues including: Network connectivity (DNS, routing, firewalls, interfaces, VLANs, bonding, SSH), System services (systemd), User authentication (LDAP, SSSD, PAM), SELinux policy issues, Storage, file systems, permissions, and process management, Log analysis using journalctl, rsyslog, auditd, and security logs
• Perform cybersecurity troubleshooting on Linux systems by: Validating secure configurations, Reviewing running services and open ports, Analyzing firewall configurations (firewalld/iptables/nftables), Verifying certificates and encryption configurations, Investigating authentication failures and audit events, Supporting incident response and forensic data collection
• Troubleshoot network communication using the OSI Modeland standard Linux networking tools (ping, traceroute, tcpdump, netstat/ss, nmcli, ip, dig, nslookup, curl, wget).
• Collaborate with Software Engineers, Systems Engineers, ISSOs, and Program Managers to integrate cybersecurity requirements into system designs.
• Develop technical mitigation statements, risk acceptance packages, and executive‑level documentation supporting RMF assessments.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, procedures, and cybersecurity artifacts throughout the program lifecycle.

You will learn to be a more effective Systems Security Engineer and leader by gaining niche skills enabling you to be unique in all you do. You will take flight into becoming a subject matter expert and leader in cybersecurity within VLF technologies with exposure to the variety of businesses and products in ever an evolving field. We are growing, so can you!

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
• ACTIVE and transferable Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date with the ability to obtain Top Secret clearance
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for security clearances
• Experience in Security Technical Implementation Guidance (STIG) and Risk Management Framework (RMF)
• Experience with Systems Engineering requirements/specifications
• Experience implementing DoD and Federal IA Certification and Accreditation Processes, IA controls and developing and maintaining associated certification and accreditation documentation.
• Experience with utilizing vulnerability scanning tools – i.e. Tenable Security Center, STIG Viewer, SCAP Compliance Checker/Tools
• Experience with Linux Commands

We Prefer:

• Active and transferable U.S. government issued DoD TOP SECRET security clearance.
• DoDI 8570.01-M IAT Level-II Compliant Certification (e.g., Security+, CISSP, or equivalent).
• Experience with Program Protection Plans (PPP) DoDI 5000.02 and DoDI 5200.39
• Experience with implementing highly technical solutions and reporting their importance to program managers and stakeholders

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
• 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.

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.

Private policy and terms information has been omitted for compliance with policy exclusions.

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.

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.

The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.