Senior Principal Systems Engineer – Test Lead (ONSITE)

Date Posted:

2026-09-30

 Country:

United States of America

 Location:

US-CA-FULLERTON-676 ~ 1801 Hughes Dr ~ BLDG 676

 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

Raytheon Company, Managed by Collins Aerospace

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 an experienced Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Test Lead who is passionate about solving complex problems and wants to make a real impact on the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) and adjacent programs. In this role, you will be leading all system-level test planning, coordination, execution, and reporting activities for the JPALS program. This role is responsible for ensuring successful verification of complex, safety‑critical, integrated hardware/software systems used in demanding operational environments. The Test Lead works closely with systems engineering, software, hardware, specialty engineering, flight test organizations, and government stakeholders.

What You Will Do

Serve as the primary technical leader for all developmental, integration, flight, and operational test activities for the JPALS program

Develop detailed test plans, procedures, schedules, and data collection strategies for laboratory, field, and shipboard testing

Lead multidisciplinary test teams, coordinating efforts across engineering, operations, manufacturing, and subcontractor partners

Manage test readiness reviews, safety reviews, range coordination, and instrumentation planning

Oversee execution of complex test events, ensuring adherence to safety, configuration control, and program requirements

Rapidly assess issues discovered during testing, drive root-cause analysis, and coordinate resolution paths with engineering teams

Maintain traceability of verification activities to system requirements, ensuring complete, compliant, and well-documented evidence

Prepare and deliver clear reports, briefings, and formal documentation for internal leadership and customer stakeholders

Qualifications You Must Have

Extensive experience in systems engineering and system-level test for complex, multi‑subsystem mission systems

Expertise across the full system test lifecycle, including test planning, requirements analysis/traceability, environment development, procedure creation, execution, reporting, and certification

Proven leadership of test activities for aerospace or defense programs, including flight or shipboard test environments and platform integration considerations

Strong knowledge of MIL‑STD testing and verification/validation practices for mission systems

Ability to interpret and manage requirements, interface control documents, CONOPS, technical specifications, TRDs, and verification matrices

Skilled in coordinating with government stakeholders, range personnel, and operational units; proficient with Digital Engineering tools (DOORS, Cameo, Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Office)

Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 10 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 7 years of experience

Qualifications We Prefer

Strong understanding of GPS/GNSS-based systems, RF signal processing, differential corrections, or navigation performance metrics

Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle (concept → design → integration → verification → validation)

Ability to understand how system components interact

Ability to identify requirement gaps, inconsistencies, conflicts, or duplication

Problem/Defect identification, reporting, and resolution

Exposure to Agile development workflows (Jira, Confluence)

Familiarity with Verification Cross‑Reference Matrices (VCRM), TRDs, or Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) artifacts

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 145,600 USD - 276,800 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 sho