Principal Systems Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted:
2026-05-27
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-TX-RICHARDSON-461 ~ 3200 E Renner Rd ~ RENNER BLDG 461
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:
DoD Clearance: Top Secret
Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

Principal Systems Engineer - (Onsite)

At RTX, the world largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world's most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.

Collins Aerospace 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.

Role Description:

Strategic Defense Solutions is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to drive technical execution and engineering excellence across advanced mission-communication programs with real-world operational impact. This role is ideal for a proven technical leader who understands that disciplined systems engineering-paired with strong mentorship and vision-directly enables mission success and ensures our customers' highest-priority capabilities are delivered with rigor and precision.

In this position, you will shape technical direction, guide engineering teams, and own the systems engineering lifecycle from concept development through fielded sustainment. Your deep expertise in mission communications will influence high-visibility programs, ensuring architectures, requirements, and verification strategies are aligned to mission needs and stakeholder expectations.

This position requires: US Department of Defense (DoD) Top Secret Security Clearance Day 1 .


Onsite: This is an onsite role supporting our Richardson, TX location.

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

What YOU Will Do:

Requirements Development & Management:

• Own the elicitation, analysis, and management of complex system-level and stakeholder requirements
• Ensure complete traceability from requirements through design, implementation, and verification
• Facilitate requirements validation activities with customers, certification authorities, and internal stakeholders

System Architecture & Design:

• Develop, evaluate, and approve advanced architectures, system concepts, and interface definitions.
• Lead and review trade studies and alternatives analysis to balance performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Ensure system design integrity and alignment with mission needs and regulatory standards.
• Integration & Verification:
• Define system-level V&V strategies, ensuring test coverage across hardware, software, and subsystem interactions.
• Lead integration activities and coordinate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Execute system-level test events and resolve discrepancies.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration:

• Serve as the primary technical authority interfacing with customers, program management, and engineering organizations.
• Provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and technical decision support across cross-functional teams.
• Present design status, technical risks, and mitigation plans to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Drive Risk, Configuration and Lifecycle Management:
• Identify, assess, and manage technical risks throughout the product lifecycle.
• Oversee configuration control, baseline maintenance, and change management processes.
• Lead design reviews, technical milestone decisions, and readiness assessments.
• Support sustainment activities, enhancements, and technology insertions across fielded products.

Qualifications 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. DoD Top Secret Security Clearance is required prior to start date.
• U.S. Citizen - U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract
• Extensive experience in requirements development, system architecture, and complex system integration
• Deep knowledge of verification and validation methodologies and documentation practices
• Demonstrated technical leadership on large, multi-disciplinary engineering programs
• Strong communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills.
• In-depth experience with mission communication systems
• Proven experience performing system testing and producing associated documentation (e.g., test plans, procedures, and results)

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Active Top Secret Security Clearance (TS/SCI eligibility preferred)
• PhD in a relevant engineering discipline
• Proficiency with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and SysML-based modeling (e.g., Cameo, Rhapsody) INCOSE CSEP or similar certification.
• Experience with risk management frameworks and formal configuration management processes
• Prior leadership of large-scale programs or cross-functional engineering teams
• Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role

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:

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!

Learn More & Apply Now!

*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.


Relocation: Assistance may be provided

Employee Referral Eligible

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.

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.


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