Senior Systems Engineer - Athena Control Systems

Date Posted: 2026-07-22 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 Joining Collins Aerospace isn’t just about finding a job; it’s about embarking on a journey to redefine the future of aerospace technology. 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. Collins Aerospace is looking for a Senior 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.  You will be leading 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 Electrical Engineering background, experience using MATLAB Simulink or other simulation tools to develop control systems, experience with developing certified safety critical systems and experience with manufacturing and production of embedded electronics 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 Duties include maintaining and performing system level tests and reporting test results Perform system installation, integration, and certification in the contractor’s lab and on the customer’s platform; perform and support investigation and resolution of system issues. Ability to perform system and subsystem requirements management in support of system enhancements and upgrades is desired. Responsibilities include being the subject matter expert (SME) regarding the installation, operation, and maintenance of the system Verify system functionality and performance comply with customer requirements Support and perform root cause analysis for reported system anomalies Support and perform trade studies addressing obsolescence Lead technical discussion and communication with the customer, technical leaders, and engineering team members. Travel up to 15%. Sign-on Bonus Eligible Qualifications You Must Have Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 5 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 3 years of experience. 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. Qualifications We Prefer Empathy, curiosity, and desire to constantly improve, acquire new skills and drive for results. Passion for technology, business, market trends and, most specifically, adding value to the industry. Possesses strong strategic, critical, and problem-solving thinking Strong interpersonal skills Expertise in innovation & the ability to think strategically about how to advance business-led solutions Working knowledge of the Systems Engineering Discipline Experience developing safety-critical embedded systems including schematics, layout, verification and system test Experience finding root cause and solutions for issues found during development, issues discovered by the customer during integration testing and from fielded units and addressing manufacturing and production issues related to yield and obsolescence Willingness to travel and represent the company at customer sites Experience working with Requirements Based Development and Requirements Management Tools Ability to create, analyze, and review electronics design, layout, mechanical and assembly drawings and schematics Experience with embedded communications protocols, antennas and Flight Dynamics for Rotary and Fixed Wing Platforms Possession of a current Quality Inspection Stamp or knowledge of acceptance procedures and ability to obtain a stamp Familiarity with radio transceiver architecture/design, basic radio functional component blocks, performance specifications, and test methodologies Knowledge of high-assurance documentation Experience troubleshooting and finding solutions for test equipment and automated test failures Experience investigating product defects, including those on the advanced radio communications equipment and avionics LRUs 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? Jo