Systems Engineer – JPALS Precision Approach and Landing (ONSITE)

Prattwhitney; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 69,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Medical insurance

401(k) plan with match

Job summary

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, based in Cedar Rapids, seeks a Systems Engineer for the JPALS group within Precision Navigation. You will contribute to the design, testing, and integration of precision approach and landing equipment.

The role involves lab work, requirements analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to develop datalinks, GPS sensor systems, and navigation algorithms. A STEM degree with 2+ years’ experience and DoD clearance eligibility is preferred.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a STEM degree and 2+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with system design, requirements, and verification across the lifecycle.
• Experience troubleshooting lab failures and indicating design improvements.

Responsibilities

• Design brand-new Precision Approach and Landing equipment.
• Perform hands-on lab testing and data analysis.
• Review mechanical drawings and schematics.
• Debug Real Time Operating System software.
• Support system integration and verification activities.

Skills

Systems Engineering

GPS testing

Radio design

High-assurance docs

Lab troubleshooting

Defect investigation

STEM degree

Education

STEM degree

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Model Based Systems Engineering

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 Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and the desire to join the JPALS team 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 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field

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!

The salary range for this role is 68,900 USD - 131,100 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.

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.

RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.