Senior Principal Systems Engineer – Position, Navigation & Timing

Date Posted:

2026-07-28



Country:

United States of America



Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-108 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 108



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

At RTX, the world's 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.

Join a small, high-impact team in Collins Aerospace’s Applied Research & Technology organization focused on pioneering alternative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions for next-generation defense platforms. As a Senior Systems Engineer, you will develop and field innovative PNT technologies designed to operate in contested and GPS-denied environments, turning emerging research into mission-ready capabilities.

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry.

Applied Research & Technology is Collins’ startup-style innovation engine. Small, focused teams explore, prototype, and demonstrate new technologies for future aerospace and defense systems. You get the freedom to experiment and move fast, with access to world-class labs, data, and product teams that can field what you build.

The Defense Technologies segment turns emerging concepts into mission-ready capabilities for contested environments. We build resilient communications and navigation solutions, secure and cyber-resilient avionics, advanced sensing, and autonomous technologies for warfighters. You work close to real missions, with clear paths to prove ideas in the lab, at the range, and on platforms.

What You Will Do

• Architect and deliver advanced PNT software and system solutions that balance performance, SWaP, cost, reliability, and security.

• Rapidly develop prototypes across simulations, lab environments, and hardware-in-the-loop setups to evaluate concepts and reduce risk.

• Run experiments and simulations, analyze results, and iterate quickly to mature concepts into robust implementations.

• Capture designs, architectures, and test insights to ensure your work can be reviewed, validated, and extended across teams.

• Work with project and program leads to manage technical risk, align plans, and communicate status and tradeoffs clearly.

• Support lab, field, and flight test activities to demonstrate capability, validate performance, and inform design improvements.

• Contribute to proposals, white papers, and technical briefings that drive future opportunities and research directions.

• Ability to travel up to 15% as required to support project, customer, and business needs.

What You Will Learn

• How to rapidly develop advanced technologies within agile, startup-like teams while leveraging the resources, expertise, and flight heritage of a leading aerospace company.

• How to drive innovation across the full product lifecycle—from concept development and threat analysis to prototyping, demonstration, and transition into operational systems.

• How to solve complex Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) challenges through the integration of embedded software, satellite communications, signal processing, and systems engineering.

• How to collaborate effectively with leading engineers, researchers, academic partners, government laboratories, and innovative small businesses to advance cutting-edge technologies.

• How to influence the future direction of technology through system architecture development, strategic roadmapping, proposal efforts, intellectual property creation, and technical publications.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience

• 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 

• Experience with PNT systems or navigation algorithms, including sensor fusion, timing architectures, estimation techniques (e.g., Kalman filtering), inertial navigation integration, or related GNSS technologies.

• Experience with GNSS fundamentals and with PNT techniques for resilient or GPS-denied operation, including methods that use RF signals or satellite communications.

• Proficiency in algorithm development and implementation using tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, C/C++, Python, HDL languages, or AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).

Qualifications We Prefer

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: PNT, signal processing, communications systems, beamforming/phased arrays, tracking and estimation, or AI/ML applied to navigation and sensing.

• Experience conducting applied research or advanced technology development in aerospace, defense, or other safety-critical/cyber-physical systems environments.

• Familiarity with aerospace or defense standards, design assurance, and mission assurance practices for software and systems.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across industry, academia, government, or research organizations and contribute to technical leadership through mentoring, proposals, publications, or patents.

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

•  And more! 

This role is eligible for relocation

Learn More & Apply Now!

Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Our industry-leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation.

Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities? If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies.

Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will

*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.

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 132,400 USD - 251,600 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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