Senior Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems

Date Posted:

2026-07-22

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-VA-STERLING-291 ~ 22640 Davis Dr ~ DAVIS

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

Joining Collins Aerospace isn’t just about finding a job; it’s about embarking on a journey to redefine the future of aerospace technology.

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Senior Systems Engineer with a passion for engineering and desire to join the Athena Control Systems Team. With a wide variety of Flight Controls, Autopilot, Engine Control, Sensing and Estimation products, the Athena Controls System Team is responsible for architecting, designing, and developing systems that serve manned and unmanned systems for commercial and military customers. You will be leading the development, certification, and maintenance of systems for safety-critical commercial and military applications. In this role, you'll work with a team of highly motivated world class engineers, ensuring our solutions meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

The ideal candidate for this role has an Electrical Engineering background, experience using MATLAB Simulink or other simulation tools to develop control systems, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with manufacturing and production of embedded electronics systems.

What You Will Do

Duties include maintaining and performing system level tests and reporting test results

Perform system installation, integration, and certification in the contractor’s lab and on the customer’s platform; perform and support investigation and resolution of system issues.

Ability to perform system and subsystem requirements management in support of system enhancements and upgrades is desired.

Responsibilities include being the subject matter expert (SME) regarding the installation, operation, and maintenance of the system

Verify system functionality and performance comply with customer requirements

Support and perform root cause analysis for reported system anomalies

Support and perform trade studies addressing obsolescence

Lead technical discussion and communication with the customer, technical leaders, and engineering team members.

Travel up to 15%.

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

Qualifications You Must Have

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.

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.

Qualifications We Prefer

Empathy, curiosity, and desire to constantly improve, acquire new skills and drive for results.

Passion for technology, business, market trends and, most specifically, adding value to the industry.

Possesses strong strategic, critical, and problem-solving thinking

Strong interpersonal skills

Expertise in innovation & the ability to think strategically about how to advance business-led solutions

Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering Discipline

Experience developing safety-critical embedded systems including schematics, layout, verification and system test

Experience finding root cause and solutions for issues found during development, issues discovered by the customer during integration testing and from fielded units and addressing manufacturing and production issues related to yield and obsolescence

Willingness to travel and represent the company at customer sites

Experience working with Requirements Based Development and Requirements Management Tools

Ability to create, analyze, and review electronics design, layout, mechanical and assembly drawings and schematics

Experience with embedded communications protocols, antennas and Flight Dynamics for Rotary and Fixed Wing Platforms

Possession of a current Quality Inspection Stamp or knowledge of acceptance procedures and ability to obtain a stamp

Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture/design, basic radio functional component blocks, performance specifications, and test methodologies

Knowledge of high-assurance documentation

Experience troubleshooting and finding solutions for test equipment and automated test failures

Experience investigating product defects, including those on the advanced radio communications equipment and avionics LRUs

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions - whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you’ll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.

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

Eligible for relocation assistance

And more!

Eligible for relocation.

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.

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 95,500 USD - 181,700 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.