Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Infrastructure (Onsite)

Senior Principal Systems Engineer

We are seeking a Senior Principal Systems Engineer to work onsite in either Richardson, TX or Cedar Rapids, IA.

At Collins Aerospace your systems engineering expertise will help shape the future of aerospace technology and support mission-critical national defense systems. We support multiple contracts and are seeking to fill roles across several open contracts – our goal is to align each new hire with a position that best suits their skills and allows for career growth.

As a Senior Principal Systems Engineer within Strategic Defense Solutions (SDS), you'll contribute to the Infrastructure IPT using next-generation network, compute, storage, and cybersecurity solutions supporting Strategic Nuclear Deterrence programs. In this highly visible technical leadership role, you'll drive complex systems engineering efforts across the full program lifecycle — from concept development and architecture definition through integration, accreditation, production, and sustainment. You'll collaborate across engineering disciplines, influence technical strategy, mentor engineering teams, and partner directly with customers and program leadership to deliver mission-critical capabilities.

What You'll Do:

• Lead systems engineering activities across the full development lifecycle for complex aerospace and defense systems.
• Lead development of system architectures, CONOPS, interface definitions, and MBSE artifacts using SysML.
• Provide technical leadership for system integration, verification, validation, troubleshooting, and accreditation activities.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration across software, hardware, cybersecurity, integration, and test teams.
• Lead Agile systems engineering activities, including decomposition of epics and features into executable user stories with clear acceptance criteria.
• Manage technical execution, program risks and opportunities, schedules, cost, and performance objectives.
• Serve as a technical mentor and coach to systems engineering teams while supporting talent development and engineering excellence.
• Interface directly with customers, senior leadership, suppliers, and stakeholders in both collaborative and classified lab environments.
• Support proposal development, technical estimation, and strategic business growth initiatives.

What You'll Learn:

• Advanced leadership practices supporting large-scale aerospace and defense programs.
• Application of cutting-edge MBSE methodologies and digital engineering strategies.
• Emerging technologies in secure communications, cloud-enabled architectures, and mission-critical military platforms.
• Best practices in operational excellence through Collins Aerospace's Customer Oriented Results and Excellence (CORE) Operating System.
• Opportunities to influence technical strategy and innovation across strategic defense programs.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Extensive experience designing and integrating complex network architectures using physical and virtual networks with VMware and/or cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle) in cloud and hybrid environments.
• Demonstrated technical leadership experience leading systems engineering teams and cross-functional engineering efforts.
• Proven experience capturing customer requirements, developing operational concepts, and deriving and tracing system and subsystem requirements.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with executive leadership, customers, program teams, and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading Agile development activities as a Scrum Master, Product Owner, Release Train Engineer, or similar leadership role.
• Experience leading technical decision-making, risk management, and system-level trade studies in complex development environments.
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and 7 years of experience.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued secret clearance is required.
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Active/Current US security clearance.
• Expertise with MBSE tools such as MagicDraw CAMEO, Rhapsody, or Enterprise Architect.
• Advanced experience developing complex SysML models, including activity, sequence, state, parametric, and block definition diagrams.
• Experience with Project Management, Control Account Management (CAM), earned value management systems (EVMS), and program execution.
• Familiarity with proposal development, basis of estimate creation, and estimation tools such as SEER products.
• Experience with digital transformation initiatives, DevSecOps, and modern systems engineering practices.
• Strong understanding of configuration management, change management, and peer review processes.
• Experience conducting root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

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
• This position may be eligible for relocation assistance
• And more!