Senior Software Engineer – Tactical Data and Autonomy (Onsite)

About the role

The role of Senior Software Engineer at Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids, IA involves designing and implementing adaptive data layer components, developing mission-adaptive software, and building orchestration and coordination capabilities for distributed autonomous systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement adaptive data layer components that manage how mission-critical information is collected, processed, prioritized, and shared across distributed autonomous platforms in communications-limited environments.
• Develop platform processing pipelines that apply machine learning-based analytics and sensemaking to transform raw sensor data into actionable mission intelligence at the tactical edge.
• Build decentralized orchestration and coordination capabilities enabling multi-platform collaboration, dynamic task distribution, sensing workload management, and resilient mission execution.
• Implement mission-adaptive routing, synchronization, and information flow logic optimized for DDIL operational environments.
• Develop intelligent decision-support mechanisms using predictive analytics, reinforcement learning-inspired behaviors, and value-of-information methodologies.
• Support integration, simulation, and validation activities within laboratory and faster-than-real-time experimentation environments to evaluate orchestration performance and system adaptability under realistic mission conditions.
• Collaborate across engineering teams to develop scalable, resilient autonomous system architectures supporting next-generation aerospace and defense missions.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience.
• Experience developing software in languages such as Python, C++, Go, or Rust.
• Experience working with APIs, machine-to-machine communication frameworks, or cross-platform system integration.
• Experience developing or deploying containerized applications using technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, or similar orchestration platforms.
• Distributed systems experience (data processing, event-driven or microservices, or low-latency architectures in constrained environments).
• Experience integrating AI/ML or analytics into operational or real-time software systems.
• Experience with autonomous systems, multi-agent coordination, or mission-aware software architectures.
• Experience working in communications-constrained, distributed, or resilient system environments.
• Experience with modeling/simulation tools (AFSIM, RCADE) and/or DoD mission interfaces and standards (UDL, OMS, etc.).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• A 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 such as pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection, birth, adoption, parental leave benefits, and more!