Applied Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted:

2026-07-28

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-108 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 108

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Applied Research & Technology is Collins’ startup-style innovation engine. Small, focused teams explore, prototype, and demonstrate new technologies for future aerospace and defense systems. You get the freedom to experiment and move fast, with access to world-class labs, data, and product teams that can field what you build.

Join a small, high-impact team in Collins Aerospace’s Applied Research & Technology organization focused on pioneering alternative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions for next-generation defense platforms. As a Systems Engineer, you will develop and field innovative PNT technologies designed to operate in contested and GPS-denied environments, turning emerging research into mission-ready capabilities.

The Defense Technologies segment turns emerging concepts into mission-ready capabilities for contested environments. We build resilient communications and navigation solutions, secure and cyber-resilient avionics, advanced sensing, and autonomous technologies for warfighters. You work close to real missions, with clear paths to prove ideas in the lab, at the range, and on platforms.

Why You Will Learn

• Gain hands-on experience designing and developing advanced Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Learn how innovative concepts evolve into prototypes, demonstrations, and operational aerospace solutions.
• Build expertise in embedded software, satellite communications, signal processing, and systems engineering while solving complex PNT challenges.
• Collaborate with experienced engineers, researchers, universities, national laboratories, and industry partners across the aerospace community.
• Expand your technical knowledge by contributing to system architectures, technology roadmaps, proposals, prototypes, and technical publications.

What You Will Do

• Support the design and implementation of PNT algorithms and software as part of system and prototype development.
• Run modeling and simulation tasks using tools such as MATLAB or Simulink to evaluate concepts and analyze performance.
• Participate in lab, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, and field test activities including setup, data collection, and analysis of results.
• Capture architectures, design decisions, and test outcomes in clear documentation to support team review and development.
• Assist project leads by identifying issues, tracking technical progress, and communicating findings to the team.

Qualifications You Must Have

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and two or more years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree, or equivalent experience.
• U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a DoW security clearance.
• Exposure to PNT systems or navigation concepts including estimation methods, sensor fusion, inertial integration, or GNSS technologies.
• Familiarity with GNSS fundamentals and with navigation approaches for resilient or GPS‑degraded operation.
• Experience using modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB or Simulink for analysis or prototyping.

Qualifications We Prefer

• Experience developing navigation, signal processing, communications, or estimation algorithms.
• Hands‑on experience implementing algorithms in MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or C or C++.
• Exposure to phased arrays, beamforming, calibration methods, or tracking and estimation techniques.
• Experience supporting applied research, prototype development, or experimental data analysis.
• Familiarity with aerospace or defense development practices.

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 
•  And more!  

This role is eligible for relocation 

Learn More & Apply Now! 

Collins Aerospace makes modern flight possible. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible without the capabilities and technologies of our organization, as well as our engineers – a highly skilled, accomplished network that spans more than 180 sites, 24 countries and 6 Strategic Business Units (SBUs). Our industry-leading experts are setting the standards for the aerospace industry and paving the way for the future. But as new challenges present themselves, we need fresh, creative and motivated minds to overcome these hurdles, help us break barriers and achieve new levels of innovation. 

Do you have what it takes to join a global organization that doesn’t shy away from big opportunities? If so, we invite you to join our ranks and create the next generation of aerospace technologies. 

Together, we will nurture an engineering culture that values intellectual curiosity, risk takers and integrity. A place where we will challenge ourselves, our teams, and the status quo and where we will 

*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. 

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 68,900 USD - 131,100 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.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.

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