Senior Principal Cyber Software Engineer

Date Posted: 2026-09-22 Country: United States of America Location: US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-166 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 166 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 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. Collins Aerospace is a leader in technologically advanced, intelligent solutions that help redefine the aerospace and defense industry. With a comprehensive portfolio and deep technical expertise, we help customers meet the demands of the global market. Join us and help shape the future of aerospace and defense. Join a fast-growing research team focused on developing new and innovative technologies to ensure the security of connected cyber physical systems.   We are seeking experienced Cyber Engineers with expertise in embedded systems and communications platforms to join our Applied Research & Technology team. In this role, you'll lead cutting-edge cybersecurity research, develop innovative security solutions for next-generation connected platforms, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve some of the industry's most complex technical challenges. The ideal candidate has experience in threat modeling, vulnerability research, embedded and operational technology (OT) security, and cyber-physical systems. Beyond technical excellence, you'll partner with customers and business leaders to identify emerging research opportunities, accelerate the transition of new technologies, and drive the adoption of innovative cybersecurity solutions that protect critical aerospace and defense platforms. What You Will Do  Lead the technical and strategic management of novel research and development projects in the cyber physical security Participate in and lead multi-disciplinary teams of hardware, software, communications, and systems engineers to develop, integrate, and evaluate new cyber security technologies Perform advanced technology demonstrations delivering early customer engagement, innovation, and business impact Participate in technical proposal preparation and the execution of government-sponsored science and technology research Cultivate strong partnerships with technology stakeholders across Collins business and customers to ensure collaboration and strategic alignment Must be willing and able to travel 10% of the time Qualifications 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 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  Experience leading technical research and development projects from concept through technology demonstration 5+ years of experience developing and integrating complex, multi-threaded embedded software, Rust, Ada, C and/or C++ 5+ years of standard full lifecycle software development practices, including the use of configuration management tools Qualifications We Prefer Active U.S. Department of Defense Top Secret security clearance (SCI eligibility preferred) Experience with leading development of System/Software Architecture Ability to communicate and present to all levels of the organization Experience in cybersecurity, embedded systems, cyber-physical systems, or related engineering disciplines Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical industries  Hands-on experience with FPGA development, embedded systems, or cyber-physical platforms Experience designing, developing, or securing software applications using modern software development practices Experience with RF/radio systems and software, such as MATLAB/Simulink, GNU Radio, or SDR platforms 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.   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