Overview
We are looking for an experienced Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Architect - Command & Control to help shape future Command and Control systems, define early‑stage concepts, influence technology roadmaps and guide complex engineering solutions from idea through to delivery. This role is for someone who enjoys working in the “front end” of engineering: understanding what the customer needs, exploring what is technically possible, shaping architectures, assessing trade‑offs and helping teams turn ambiguity into structured, deliverable engineering plans. Modern missions depend on fast, secure and resilient information. Across airborne, land or maritime environments, Command and Control systems need to connect people, platforms, sensors, networks and decision‑making tools in a way that is reliable, scalable and operationally effective. In this role you will help define the systems that make that possible. You will work at the intersection of systems engineering, military communications, networking, autonomy, AI‑enabled workflows and mission systems architecture, supporting both current programmes and future technology development.
Responsibilities
What you will do: You will contribute to the identification of emerging and future technologies, with a primary focus on Command and Control, including communications, networking, AI, autonomy and information management. You will define and develop CONEMP and CONOPS for mission systems, helping to describe how systems will be used in real operational scenarios and how they will deliver value at a system‑of‑systems level. You will capture, analyse and translate customer needs into clear system requirements, architectures and technical solutions, particularly in complex or evolving domains where requirements may not be fully mature at the start. You will develop and assess architecture options, carry out technical trade studies, and produce clear recommendations that balance capability, cost, risk, complexity and delivery feasibility. You will support bids and early‑stage programme activity by shaping technical solutions, delivery plans, estimates and work breakdown structures. You will provide technical leadership and systems engineering guidance across the lifecycle, supporting robust delivery against time, cost and quality expectations. You will act as a technical mentor, helping others deliver high‑quality engineering outputs and supporting the development of capability across the wider team. You will collaborate with internal Collins teams, RTX business areas, external suppliers, Business Development, Programme Management and technical specialists to develop integrated solutions. You will identify technical risks and mitigations, support technical governance, and ensure appropriate engineering plans are created and followed throughout the project lifecycle. You will also support design activity involving export‑controlled technologies, including awareness of US ITAR controls where applicable.
You will work with technologies that support the future of Command and Control, including secure communications, networking, autonomy, AI‑enabled data workflows and system‑of‑systems architecture. You will deepen your experience in early‑stage technology development, customer problem shaping, technical roadmapping, engineering governance and complex solution delivery. You will collaborate with experts across Collins Aerospace, RTX and external partner organisations, contributing to work that has real operational relevance.
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex, open‑ended engineering problems. You may be the person others turn to when the requirement is unclear, the architecture needs shaping, or the technical path needs structure. You will be comfortable moving between big‑picture thinking and practical delivery planning. One moment you may be exploring future C2 architectures, the next you may be helping define a work breakdown structure, support a bid, review risks or guide a team through a technical decision. You do not need to know every tool, protocol or architecture listed above. What matters is that you bring strong systems thinking, technical credibility, curiosity, leadership and the ability to turn complexity into direction.
About Collins Aerospace
At Collins Aerospace, you will be part of a global engineering organisation working on some of the most challenging and meaningful problems in aerospace and defense. You will join a team where systems engineering is not just documentation. It is the bridge between customer need, mission reality, technology choice and successful delivery. This is an opportunity to influence future capability, work with advanced technologies and help shape systems that connect and protect the world.
Qualifications
You will be an experienced Systems Engineering practitioner with strong capability across the full engineering lifecycle, particularly in early‑stage concept development, requirements definition and architecture design. You will be comfortable working with uncertain or evolving customer needs and turn them into structured technical direction. You will bring strong knowledge of military communication systems, heterogeneous networks, networking concepts and security functions. You will have experience defining and eliciting system and subsystem requirements, developing high‑level architectures and using systems engineering methods, tools and processes to guide technical delivery. You will be confident engaging with technical and non‑technical stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, engineering teams, programme teams and business development colleagues. You will be able to make sound engineering judgments based on requirements, constraints, risks, costs and delivery realities.
Skills & Experience
* Systems Engineering across the full lifecycle
* Early‑stage concept development and solution shaping
* Requirements capture, definition and analysis
* System architecture development
* Military communications systems
* Heterogeneous networks
* Networking and security functions
* Model‑Based Systems Engineering
* Enterprise Architect, Cameo, IBM DOORS or similar toolsets
* Verification and validation approaches
* Technical trade studies and option analysis
* Technical bid support, delivery planning and estimatingTechnical risk identification and mitigation
* Cross‑functional technical team coordination
* Stakeholder communication across technical and non‑technical audiences
Additional Experience
* Airborne, land or maritime system architectures
* Aerospace, land or maritime system integration
* Communications standards, datalinks and protocols, including Link 16
* C2 or information management systems
* Autonomy within C2, networking or information management environments
* Open or reference architectures such as MOSA, SOSA, Pyramid or MDISRouting and switching technologies, including Cisco, Aruba or Juniper
* SD‑WAN technologies
* Firewalls and network security
* Wireless networks
* Cloud networking, including Azure or AWS
* Microservices or cloud‑based software architectures
* Simulation tools such as Ansys, VR Forces or EMANE
* AI‑enabled or agentic data workflows
* Toolsets such as Cloudera or Cloudflare
* Configuration management
* External network vendor or carrier engagement
* Aerospace certification, regulation or engineering governance
* UK MOD customer environment or MOD procurement processes
* MAA RA1220
* MAA DAOS
* Chartered Engineer status
* Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant discipline
Essential Requirements
* A degree or equivalent experience in a STEM subject
* Significant relevant experience in systems engineering, systems architecture or complex technical solution development
* Knowledge of the military and/or civil aerospace industry
* Evidence of further learning or relevant training in complex communications and networks
* Strong customer‑facing presence
* Excellent communication, coaching and mentoring skills
* Ability to work well under pressure and manage competing priorities
* Ability to lead or guide technical teams and influence technical direction
* Sound judgement when assessing integrated engineering solutions
* SC security clearance, or the ability to obtain it
Benefits
* Competitive Compensation Package
* 25 days Annual Leave + Public Holidays + option to buy / sell up to 5 days per year
* Generous Employer Contribution Pension Scheme with 2:1 matched contributions up to 10%
* Private Medical Insurance
* Health & Wellbeing Cash Plan (dental, optical, therapy, chiropody, health screening)
* Life Assurance & Group Income protection scheme participation
* Professional Development & Growth
* Support with professional fees
* Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Employee Discounts & Flexible Benefits Platform
* Employee Recognition & Referral Bonuses
* and much more!
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