Principal Systems Engineer - Secure Systems (Active Clearance)

Date Posted: 2026-08-05 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137 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 Our nation's security depends on the sacrifice of the men and women who defend our country. For them to do this effectively, they need the technology that keeps them a step ahead of their adversaries. This means providing secure yet technologically advanced equipment to our service personnel, fielded as quickly as possible. Our commitment is to do exactly that. This position is for an experienced Systems Engineering professional. Join the Mission Systems Secure Systems Department and help shape, define, and design communication solutions that connect militaries around the world! As a Systems Engineer, you will design and develop military products ensuring safe and protected communication. You will interface with multi-discipline engineering teams to create total system solutions, addressing both domestic and international customer needs. We are looking for talented individuals that love to problem solve and have a desire to grow and gain exposure to new skills. Our customers come from all different backgrounds, and so do our employees. If you're passionate about what you could accomplish here, we'd love to hear from you. Sign-on Bonus Eligible What YOU will do:

• Perform analysis's, architecture and design at all levels of the total system product including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance and disposal.
• Perform functional analysis's, trade studies, requirements allocation and interface definition studies to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
• Provide analyses for the decomposition of customer specifications and system level requirements into sub-system and piece part requirements, and develops verification criteria and plans for the requirements
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk, and supportability and effectiveness analyses for total system solutions.
• Perform bid and proposal efforts

What You will learn:

• You will gain technical leadership experience, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to very influential individuals within Mission Systems that will help advance your career.
• You will obtain invaluable experience working with our subject matter experts in addition to security and crypto certification specialists, our customer base, and cross-functional integrated product team.
• You can take flight to becoming knowledgeable in security hardened products with exposure to the variety of business and products in an ever-evolving field. We are growing, so can you!

What You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.
• Active and transferable U.S. government issued secret security clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, and verification/validation, and transition to production.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Familiarity with the Scaled Agile framework
• Exceptionally strong communication skills, experience presenting technical data to program management and executive leadership
• Experienced with Cryptographic Hardware architecture/design, Network Encryption specifications and test methodologies
• Experience with tools such as DOORS, CAMEO or similar, Software Languages such as Rust and Python.
• Experience with Hardware and Software Integration, Validation & Verification Testing, and Qualification Testing

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers' toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today. What We Offer Benefits Some of our competitive benefits package includes:

• 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
• Eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!

Eligible for relocation. Learn More & Apply Now! Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions — whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today. Role Type *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. Apply now and be part of the team that's redefining aerospace, every day.

#MISENG

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select 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 107,500 USD - 204,500 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. Privacy Policy and Terms: Click on this link ( to read the Policy and Terms Collins Aerospace