Autonomous Systems Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted: 2026-08-06 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-105 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 105 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

Want to shape the future of Avionics? This position is for an experienced professional to join the Autonomy Aircraft Systems and Integration team in the Aerospace Technologies – Applied Research and Technology department. This group supports the Avionics Strategic Business Unit in researching, maturing, and transitioning technologies that enable advanced capabilities and operations in commercial aviation. The team is cross-functional and composed of systems, software, hardware, and human factors engineers with a variety of expertise. Areas of near-term focus include Autonomy Lab and Jet Integration and automation capability definition. As an Aircraft Autonomy Systems and Integration engineer, you will be part of a highly motivated and innovative team supporting the development of rapid prototypes and proof of concepts for internal and external demonstrations. This is a unique position where every day will be a little bit different with new challenges and problems to be solved. This will allow you to use your skills and push you to continually to learn new ones. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of Systems Engineering and Integration, a background in aviation, and a passion for defining new solutions. This is an onsite position based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

• Provide technical guidance and leadership to a team of engineers and researchers working on autonomy projects.
• Define requirements, interfaces and updates needed to develop new autonomous solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to define, design, develop, and implement advanced autonomy capabilities across contributing domains.
• Execute integration and test activities in the lab and on the aircraft.
• Disposition test and integration issues and conduct root cause investigations.
• Create and maintain Systems documentation.
• Foster innovation and excellence in technical execution.

• You Must Have 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
• Strong leadership and communication skills, including experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong Background in Systems Engineering Aircraft Integration and Test experience
• Avionics Experience
• Qualifications We Prefer Avionics certification experience
• Flight Testing experience
• Experience Proline Fusion or EDS avionics
• Pilot or Flight Operations Experience
• Experience architecting systems and software
• Familiarity with Agile, SCRUM, and Jira

• 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!

Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time.

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. Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world – and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings. 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 132,400 USD - 251,600 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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RTX is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. It comprises three industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. Its 195,000 employees enable the company to operate at the edge of known science as they imagine and deliver solutions that push the boundaries in quantum physics, electric propulsion, directed energy, hypersonics, avionics and cybersecurity. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.