Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems (ONSITE)

Date Posted:

2026-10-19

 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 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 Systems Engineer II on the Athena Control Systems Team, you will be contributing to 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 embedded and application software development background, experience running simulations to collect test data, using MATLAB or other tools to analyze test data, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with system integration testing on hardware in a lab environment.

Please click here on this link to learn more about Athena Control Systems: 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

Design, code, integrate, and test embedded software systems

Generate and maintain software documentation for the software lifecycle artifacts (planning, high and low-level requirements, architecture and design, verification test cases/procedures/results)

Develop knowledge with a primary emphasis on taking technical ownership of one or more components within a system

Able to clearly summarize technical software issues to project leadership in a timely fashion

Able to work with moderate oversight from leadership

Maintain and perform system level tests and reporting test results

Verify system functionality and performance comply with customer requirements

Support and perform root cause analysis for reported system anomalies

Contribute to technical discussion and communication with customers, technical leaders, and engineering team members

Travel up to 15% required

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

Experience may be obtained through job experience, research, coursework, or projects

Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field

Qualifications We Prefer

Experience with tools such as DOORS, MATLAB, C++, and Python

Experience with the systems development process, including requirements capture, design, decomposition, integration, verification/validation, and transition to production

Experience with communicating between program stakeholders

Knowledge and experience with the aerospace industry, sensor fusion, control systems, computer vision, and/or algorithm development

Experience developing safety-critical embedded systems including software hardware system integration, reading schematics and layouts and requirements-based system test and verification

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 75,800 USD - 144,200 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 agreeme