Systems Engineer
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.
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.
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.
What You Will Learn:
- How to develop technology rapidly on small teams that operate like a startup, backed by the labs, resources, and flight heritage of a major aerospace company.
- How to innovate end-to-end: from whiteboard concepts and threat models to prototypes, demos, and transition into fielded products.
- How to work on hard, open-ended PNT challenges that blend embedded software, satellite communications, signal processing, and systems engineering.
- How to collaborate with world-class engineers and researchers across Collins, RTX, universities, labs, and innovative small businesses.
- How to shape where the technology goes next by influencing architectures, roadmaps, proposals, patents, and publications.
What You Will Do:
- Support the development and integration of PNT system concepts, algorithms, and prototypes.
- Perform modeling and simulation activities using tools such as MATLAB or Simulink to evaluate system performance.
- Participate in lab, hardware-in-the-loop, and field test activities, including data collection and analysis.
- Document architectures, design decisions, test results, and engineering analyses.
- Assist project leads by identifying risks, tracking technical progress, and communicating findings.
- Contribute to internal reviews, demonstrations, and technical materials for proposals or customer engagements.
Qualifications You Must Have:
- Master’s degree in a STEM major obtained by start date
- Exposure to PNT systems or navigation-related concepts such as estimation techniques, sensor fusion, inertial navigation, or GNSS technologies.
- Familiarity with GNSS fundamentals and/or methods for resilient or GPS-degraded navigation.
- Experience using modeling and simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
- Ability to travel up to 10–15%.
Qualifications We Prefer:
- Experience with PNT, signal processing, communications, or estimation algorithms.
- Hands-on experience with algorithm development in MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or C/C++.
- Exposure to phased arrays, beamforming, calibration, or tracking/estimation methods.
- Experience supporting applied research, prototype development, or experimentation.
- Familiarity with aerospace or defense development practices.
- Experience working with external partners such as universities or research organizations.
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
- This position may be eligible for relocation
- And more!