Manager Principal Optical Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Date Posted:
2026-07-07
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-143 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 143
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: Top Secret
Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required after day 1
At RTX, the world's largest aerospace and defense company, 185,000 great minds are united by purpose and inspired to make a difference solving the world's most complex problems. With our three market leading businesses, world-class operations and investments in research and development, we offer capabilities and opportunity no one else can. Together, we push the boundaries of known science and find new ways to connect and protect our world.
We are seeking a Principal Systems Engineer - Infrastructure to work onsite in Cedar Rapids, IA. Come embark on a journey where your expertise in systems engineering will help shape the future of aerospace technology. At Collins Aerospace, we're modernizing the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) capability as part of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) Program to recapitalize the E-4B fleet with next-generation capabilities.
As a Principal Systems Engineer on the SAOC engineering team, we will equip you with the opportunities and resources necessary to develop your expertise in the systems engineering lifecycle. You will have the opportunity to learn from top professionals in the communications and nuclear deterrence sectors at Collins Aerospace. This role will be part of a geographically distributed team responsible for systems and security engineering tasks associated with our next-generation network, compute, and storage technologies.
No need to be an established subject matter expert, we are looking for talented individuals that love to solve problems and have a desire to grow and gain exposure to new skills. Our customers come from all different backgrounds, and so do our employees. If you're passionate about what you could accomplish here, we'd love to hear from you.
Sign-on Bonus Eligible
What YOU will do:

• YOU will work closely with a highly motivated and dedicated team of professionals and other internal/external stakeholders while executing model-based systems engineering development activities for the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) program.

• YOU will participate in the systems development lifecycle, including trade study execution, system design, requirements definition, requirements allocation, requirement traceability, systems integration, verification testing and qualification.

• YOU will support Agile planning and execution, help keep work aligned with program cost and schedule objectives, assist with managing risks and issues, and be actively involved in planning activities.

• YOU will participate in and facilitate Agile team ceremonies, Agile sprint reviews, user story refinement and end of sprint product demos.

• YOU will have the opportunity to support cost account management activities, including tracking cost and schedule performance, reporting status, monitoring key metrics, and helping identify and communicate risks and issues.

What YOU will learn:

• You will gain technical leadership experience, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to very influential individuals within Mission Systems that will help advance your career.

• You will gain experience developing secure, cyber-resilient systems while collaborating with security, crypto, customer, and engineering experts and applying modern systems engineering practices.

• You will apply and expand your MBSE skills through hands-on experience with modern modeling tools and systems engineering practices.

• Grow your expertise in secure products while advancing your career in a rapidly evolving portfolio. We are growing, so can you!

Qualifications You Must Have :

• Experience in multiple areas of the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements development, design, integration, verification, validation, and technical documentation.

• Experience with MBSE, including system modeling, requirements traceability, or architecture development.

• Experience leading engineering activities while managing multiple projects and competing priorities.

• Experience using the Atlassian resource suite, specifically: Jira, Jama, and Confluence.

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience oran Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience.

• The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S. government issued security clearance is required.

• U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Qualifications We Prefer :

• Experience designing, developing, and integrating networked processing, distributed computing, and secure systems.

• Experience applying systems engineering principles throughout the development lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, design, integration, verification, and validation.

• Experience supporting subcontracted development efforts within a multidisciplinary engineering environment.

• Experience working in Agile development environments and collaborating across software, hardware, cyber, and systems engineering teams.

• Experience with MBSE methodologies, SysML, and modeling tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, or Enterprise Architect.

• Experience developing systems for military or mission-critical environments with consideration for security, resiliency, and applicable military standards.

• Experience with cryptographic integration, multi-domain security architectures, Systems Security Engineering, and security compliance/accreditation activities.

• Working knowledge of bidding and project/task estimation tools (e.g. SEER products).

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
• 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
• Relocation assistance may be provided
• 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.
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 107,500 USD - 204,500 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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