Principal Electrical/Software Engineer (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2025-09-03

Country:

United States of America

Location:

HIA32: Cedar Rapids, IA 400 Collins Rd NE , Cedar Rapids, IA, 52498-0505 USA

Position Role Type:

Onsite

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

Active and transferable U.S. government issued security clearance is required prior to start date.​ U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance​

Security Clearance:

DoD Clearance: Secret

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. 

Mission Systems Advanced Technology & Capabilities (ATC) is seeking a Principal Electrical/Software Engineer to perform research & development on the waveform Technologies team in Cedar Rapids, IA. This role will contribute to and lead a large portfolio of projects—serving as design authority for Digital Signal Processing/waveform systems that operate under the most demanding conditions, rapidly developing new ideas, leading advanced technology development projects, and pursuing external funding. 

Collins Mission Systems ATC groups focus on cutting edge Department of Defense research and development projects. As an ATC engineer, you will continually advance the state of the art through the creation of innovative system concepts and technological capabilities.  As cutting-edge concepts / capabilities are proven, matured, and demonstrated, you will collaborate with business unit engineers in the adoption and transition of technologies into the next generation of Collins products and services. 

Within a group of highly innovative engineers, this role provides leadership over low TRL (Technology Readiness Level <6) programs to ensure all the key performance characteristics are consistently met and that valuable IP is captured and protected as part of the Invention Disclosure process. The effective candidate will have experience both capturing pursuits and bringing the program’s vision to reality, including technical leadership and execution. 

What You Will Do:

• Engage in close, cross-functional collaboration with teams across the Systems, Software, Firmware, and Hardware domains to analyze complex technical challenges, identify opportunities for innovation, and develop and implement effective, forward-thinking solutions

• Drive the architecture, design, simulation, implementation, testing, and troubleshooting of cutting-edge digital signal processing (DSP) and waveform solutions for communications, navigation, radar, and electronic warfare applications, including both clean-sheet designs and system updates

• Cross-domain communicate to derive technical requirements from overarching project goals and mission needs.

• Develop, champion, and pursue new ideas in advanced DSP and waveform technologies

• Connecting peers at the advanced technology level for strategic technology opportunities, and creating and delivering technical presentations to internal representatives on standard committee

• Lead external funding pursuits through Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), proposal writing and customer engagement

• Assist in shaping technical direction through the development of technology roadmaps and project concepts aligned with business objectives

• Complete assigned tasks with accountability for technical execution, cost, schedule, and design-to-cost

• Lead small project teams (5+ members), providing technical direction and mentorship

• Train and support less-experienced engineers and designers.

• Ability to travel up to 15%

Qualifications You Must Have:

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

• Experience with Design, Simulation, and Implementation using tools such as: MathWorks tool suite (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink),

• FPGA development tools (e.g., Vivado, Quartus, Synplify),

• Experience with modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, channel modeling, and evaluating metrics such as BER/MER

• Proficiency in acquisition/tracking algorithms, filter and filter bank design, rate matching, equalization, rake receivers, etc

Qualifications we prefer:

• Advance