Principal Embedded Systems Security Engineer (Onsite - Cedar Rapids, IA)

Date Posted: 2026-08-05 | Location: Cedar Rapids, IA (onsite) | U.S. citizenship required to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance; active clearance required after day one. Relocation assistance available.

About the Role

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking a Principal Embedded Systems Security Engineer to lead all phases of the Secure System Development Life Cycle. This role supports product development across the company where security requirements or cyber threats exist, including avionics systems. The position involves identifying cyber threats, influencing secure architectural designs, ensuring proper security implementation, and developing testing strategies to verify risk mitigation. This is an onsite role in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the security subject matter expert and lead for programs, collaborating with system and software teams.
• Analyze systems to identify attack vectors and assess risks for new and existing products.
• Advise program leaders on incorporating security technologies into strategic product roadmaps.
• Ensure proper implementation of security measures during product development.
• Develop, deploy, and automate security tools and testing to identify product security flaws.
• Characterize security vulnerability assessments and recommend mitigations.
• Guide adherence to military RMF processes and DO-326A/DO-356A Airworthiness Security process.
• Foster organizational adoption of the Avionics Secure System Development Life Cycle (SSDLC).
• Evaluate and contribute to technical proposals and bids/pursuits.
• Mentor junior product security engineers to advance their skills and capabilities.
• Participate in cybersecurity-focused industry committees and working groups.

Requirements

• Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree with 5 years of experience.
• U.S. citizenship (required for security clearance eligibility).
• Experience in product cybersecurity, embedded software engineering, or secure system design.
• Embedded software engineering knowledge (Python, Java, C/C++).
• Experience analyzing systems and security architectures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Secret clearance.
• Experience reviewing system and application vulnerabilities, threat models, and providing mitigations.
• Hands-on experience with static analysis and analyzing security impact of code defects.
• Experience executing system and application fuzzing/resiliency tests.
• Analysis experience of SELinux policies for process isolation/separation.
• Experience with data/network security implementations and OS hardening.
• Experience with system and application penetration testing.
• Experience with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
• Experience with Military RMF process and RTCA DO-326A/DO-356A.
• Security certifications (e.g., Sec+, OSCP, CISSP).
• Networking knowledge (OSI layers, protocols).
• Curiosity and desire to continuously learn and share security concepts.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement and Student Loan Repayment programs.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverages: pet insurance, home/auto insurance, additional life/accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection.
• Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits.
• Ovia Health (fertility and family planning), Adoption Assistance, Autism Benefit.
• Employee Assistance Plan (up to 10 free counseling sessions).
• Wellness rewards program (Healthy You Incentives).
• Virtual doctor visits (Doctor on Demand, Teladoc Medical Experts).
• Child and elder care services (Bright Horizons).

Pay

The salary range for this role is $107,500 – $204,500 USD. Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs, depending on role level and collective-bargaining agreement status.