Principal Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems (ONSITE)

Date Posted:

2026-09-22

 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

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense.

Collins Aerospace is looking for a Principal 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. As a Principal Systems Engineer on the Athena Control Systems Team , 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.

You will be asked to apply your knowledge in the following areas to a variety of products/applications that are relevant to both military and commercial industries:

System dynamics and state estimation (linear/nonlinear, navigation/PNT, cooperative PNT, distributed PNT, inertial sensor modeling, oscillator modeling)

Guidance (path planning, mission planning, cooperative teaming, tactical maneuvering)

Control (Fixed Wing, VTOL, HVTOL, Rotorcraft)

Perception (Classification, Identification, SLAM, Feature tracking, Automatic Target Recognition)

This role requires a focus on innovation and strong execution with extensive experience developing, integrating and testing software for safety critical embedded systems.

The ideal candidate for this role has an embedded and application software development background, experience using MATLAB or other tools to run software in the loop testing and analyze data, experience running on target hardware in the loops simulations, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with system integration testing on hardware in a lab environment.

https://www.rtx.com/collinsaerospace/what-we-do/industries/military-and-defense/navigation/airborne-products/attitude-and-heading-reference-system/athena-gs111r-uas-autopilot-adahrs-pnt-hub

What You Will Do

Lead and participate in software design, system design and program reviews to ensure team progress against milestones are met and tracking project schedules

Write integration and test plans; conduct and lead integration and verification testing to deliver safe high-quality solutions

Lead and manage the engineering bid and planning process for a multi-disciplinary engineering team

Work on multiple programs simultaneously

Provide communication and status to relevant stakeholders

Support verification and traceability of the system requirements

Support peer reviews on test procedures & design documentation

Help drive resolution for technical issues through problem-solving and coordination across impacted teams and subject matter experts

Opportunity to help improve our development processes and tools

This position will require up to 15% travel

Sign-on Bonus Eligible

Qualifications You Must Have

Experience with software development with C/C++, embedded systems and real time operating systems

Experience with development tool sets, for example, Jira, Subversion/Git/Version Management

Knowledge and experience with the aerospace or related industry, vehicle control, algorithm development, and experience with development and testing in a lab environment

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

Qualifications We Prefer

Experience evaluating inertial, air data and magnetometer sensors

Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering Discipline

Working knowledge and experience with GNSS, DGNSS, RTK and WAAS

Experience working with Requirements Based Development and Requirements Management Tools

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

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

Experience in developing system level solutions that integrate multiple systems into a single offering

What We Offer

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

Carrot Health to hormonal 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

This position is eligible for relocation assistance

And more!

Learn More & Apply Now!

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.

*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.

Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.

Employee Referral Eligible

#MISENG

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 118,300 USD - 224,900 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