Principal Systems Engineer (ONSITE)

Date Posted: 2026-08-19 | Location: Cedar Rapids, IA | Onsite | U.S. citizenship required for security clearance

About the Role

The Joint Precision Approach and Landing Systems (JPALS) group at Collins Aerospace is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to contribute to various components of precision navigation systems, including datalink/communications, position and time sensors, customer hardware lab testing, military radios, and antennas. This role spans the entire Engineering Development Lifecycle, from design and requirements to validation, verification, integration, and testing. A significant portion of the work will be hands-on in the lab.

Responsibilities

• Design new Precision Approach and Landing equipment.
• Perform hands-on testing in a lab environment.
• Create, analyze, and review mechanical drawings and schematics.
• Assist in system-level analysis, including concept, design, fabrication, modeling, test, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal.
• Perform technical planning, system integration, verification and validation, cost and risk analysis, and supportability/effectiveness analyses for total systems.
• Manage configuration processes, perform functional and timeline analysis, conduct trade studies, allocate requirements, and define interfaces to translate customer requirements into hardware and software specifications.
• Decompose customer specifications and system-level requirements into sub-system and piece-part requirements, generating verification criteria and plans.
• Coordinate with cross-functional team members to complete assignments and projects on schedule.

Requirements

• In-depth experience in Environmental and Electromagnetic Qualification testing on customer hardware.
• Experience investigating product defects, including those on advanced radio communications equipment and avionics LRUs.
• Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture/design, basic radio functional component blocks, performance specifications, and test methodologies.
• Active and transferable SECRET security clearance required prior to start date (U.S. citizenship required).
• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience, or an Advanced Degree in a related field with at least 5 years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong experience in a lab environment and with troubleshooting customer hardware products.
• Ability to update lab test documentation to adhere to customer requirements.
• Experience creating qualification test reports to document lab testing for customer requirements.

Benefits

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

Pay

The salary range for this role is $107,500 – $204,500 USD.