Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Program Manager (TPM) (ONSITE)

About the role

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Technical Program Manager (TPM) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The role involves leading next-generation Open System Architecture product development, blending technical program leadership with hands-on systems engineering execution.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the systems engineering team, including defining scope, breaking down work packages, assigning tasks, coaching junior engineers, and ensuring delivery of high quality engineering artifacts
• Serve as the primary technical authority for the program, guiding system architecture, major trade studies, requirements development, interface definition, and critical design decisions
• Lead planning, development, integration, demonstrations, and major engineering events, including PDR, CDR, TRR, and customer technical reviews
• Plan and execute project level work to meet schedule, cost, and performance objectives, collaborating closely with program management and cross-functional engineering teams
• Identify, manage, and mitigate technical risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive resolution and communication
• Support hands-on execution when necessary, including completing engineering tasks, participating in lab and field integration events, or stepping in to deliver technical demonstrations
• Lead effective multidisciplinary working sessions and trade studies, facilitating decision-making and driving alignment across systems, hardware, software, and firmware teams
• Influence technical and operational policies, working across organizational boundaries to shape practices and engineering processes
• Coach, mentor, and review work of lower-level professionals, fostering technical growth and a strong team culture

Qualifications

• You must have experience with EVM and understanding of government reporting requirements
• Proven ability to plan and execute engineering work to meet schedule, cost, and performance goals
• Familiarity with Agile processes and methodologies
• Active and transferable SECRET clearance is required prior to start date
• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
• 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
• Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering (SysML, Cameo, Rhapsody)
• Proficiency with modeling and simulation tools (e.g., Matlab)
• Experience with MS Project, Confluence, JIRA, or similar tools
• Experience in technical risk & opportunity management, interface definition, and configuration management
• Agile leadership experience (Scrum Master, Product Owner, etc.)
• Experience with bidding, estimating tools (SEER), and BOE development
• Familiarity with military CONOPS or radio performance standards
• Experience in design-to-cost, design-for-manufacturing background, or experience transitioning products to production
• Existing SAP clearance