Principal Systems Engineer / Technical Program Manager

Salary: $107,500 - 204,500 per year Requirements:

• We require an active and transferable U.S. government-issued Secret clearance before the start date, and U.S. citizenship is necessary to obtain it.
• We look for a background in STEM, typically a bachelors degree with at least 8 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with at least 5 years of experience.
• We need experience with Earned Value Management and familiarity with government reporting expectations.
• We expect proven ability to plan and deliver engineering work against schedule, cost, and performance targets.
• We value familiarity with Agile practices and methods.
• We require experience supporting or integrating systems engineering, software, hardware, and firmware development.
• Preferred qualifications include experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering tools such as SysML, Cameo, or Rhapsody.
• Additional advantages include experience with modeling and simulation tools such as Matlab, along with MS Project, Confluence, JIRA, or similar platforms.
• We prefer candidates with experience in technical risk and opportunity management, interface definition, and configuration management.
• Agile leadership experience, such as Scrum Master or Product Owner responsibilities, is a plus.
• Experience with estimating tools such as SEER, BOE development, military CONOPS, radio performance standards, design-to-cost, design-for-manufacturing, production transition, or an existing SAP clearance would be beneficial.

• We will rely on you to provide technical leadership for our systems engineering team by defining scope, decomposing work packages, assigning tasks, coaching junior engineers, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality engineering outputs.
• You will act as the primary technical authority for the program, guiding architecture decisions, trade studies, requirements development, interface definition, and critical design choices.
• You will lead planning, development, integration, demonstrations, and major engineering events, including PDR, CDR, TRR, and customer technical reviews.
• You will coordinate project execution to achieve schedule, cost, and performance objectives in close partnership with program management and cross-functional engineering teams.
• You will provide Earned Value Management analysis and support government reporting obligations.
• You will identify, manage, and reduce technical risks and opportunities while communicating issues proactively.
• You will step in with hands-on engineering support when needed, including integration activities, lab and field events, and technical demonstrations.
• You will facilitate multidisciplinary working sessions and trade studies to build alignment across systems, hardware, software, and firmware teams.
• You will help shape technical and operational practices across organizational boundaries.
• You will coach, mentor, and review the work of more junior professionals to strengthen technical capability and team culture.

• Confluence
• Firmware
• Hardware
• Support
• JIRA
• Matlab
• Product Owner
• SAP
• Flow
• OSS
• Security

More:

We are Collins Aerospace, an RTX company and a leader in advanced, intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Our Open Systems Solutions Products Team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Program Manager to help lead next-generation open system architecture product development for mission-critical capabilities. This is an onsite role with up to 25% travel, and relocation assistance is available. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement savings with employer contributions, tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment support, life and disability insurance, parental leave, wellness resources, child and elder care support, and more.

last updated 33 week of 2026