Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems (ONSITE)

Collins Aerospace; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 144,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Relocation assistance

Three weeks of vacation

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, Sterling, VA, seeks a Systems Engineer II for the Athena Control Systems Team to design and develop safety-critical embedded software and system solutions for aerospace and defense applications.

You will work across architecture, coding in C/C++, and hardware integration, performing rigorous lab tests and certification activities. Travel up to 15% is required, with DoD Secret clearance and US citizenship preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience with C/C++ in embedded real-time systems.
• Familiarity with development tool suites (Jira, Git/Subversion).
• Typically requires STEM degree and 2+ years of relevant experience or an advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Design, code, integrate, and test embedded software systems.
• Generate and maintain software lifecycle documentation (planning, requirements, architecture, verification).
• Develop knowledge with technical ownership of one or more components within a system.
• Summarize technical software issues to project leadership promptly.
• Work with moderate oversight from leadership.
• Maintain and perform system-level tests and report results.
• Verify system functionality and performance per customer requirements.
• Support root cause analysis for reported anomalies.
• Contribute to technical discussions with customers and engineering teams.
• Travel up to 15%.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded systems

RTOS

Jira & version control

Education

STEM degree

2+ years relevant experience

Tools

DOORS

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Date Posted

2026-10-19

Country

United States of America

Location

US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

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.

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and desire to join the Athena Control Systems Team. With a wide variety of Flight Controls, Autopilot, Engine Control, Sensing and Estimation products, the Athena Controls System Team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems that serve manned and unmanned systems for commercial and military customers. As a Systems Engineer II on the Athena Control Systems Team, you will be contributing to the development, certification, and maintenance of systems for safety-critical commercial and military applications. In this role, you'll work with a team of highly motivated world class engineers, ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

The ideal candidate for this role has an embedded and application software development background, experience running simulations to collect test data, using MATLAB or other tools to analyze test data, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with system integration testing on hardware in a lab environment.

What You Will Do

• Design, code, integrate, and test embedded software systems
• Generate and maintain software documentation for the software lifecycle artifacts (planning, high and low-level requirements, architecture and design, verification test cases/procedures/results)
• Develop knowledge with a primary emphasis on taking technical ownership of one or more components within a system
• Able to clearly summarize technical software issues to project leadership in a timely fashion
• Able to work with moderate oversight from leadership
• Maintain and perform system level tests and reporting test results
• Verify system functionality and performance comply with customer requirements
• Support and perform root cause analysis for reported system anomalies
• Contribute to technical discussion and communication with customers, technical leaders, and engineering team members
• Travel up to 15% required

Qualifications You Must Have

• Experience with software development with C/C++, embedded systems and real time operating systems
• Experience with development tool sets, for example, Jira, Subversion/Git/Version Management
• Experience may be obtained through job experience, research, coursework, or projects
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience with tools such as DOORS, MATLAB, C++, and Python
• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, verification/validation, and transition to production
• Experience with communicating between program stakeholders
• Knowledge and experience with the aerospace industry, sensor fusion, control systems, computer vision, and/or algorithm development
• Experience developing safety-critical embedded systems including software hardware system integration, reading schematics and layouts and requirements-based system test and verification

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
• Carrot Health to hormonal 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!

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.

Employee Referral Eligible

#MISENG

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 75,800 USD - 144,200 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.

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.

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