Principal Mission / Systems Engineer

Date Posted: 2026-04-13 Country: United States of America Location: US-CA-SAN JOSE-826 ~ 200 Holger Way ~ BLDG 826, Ast 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 Type: TS/SCI

• Current Security Clearance Status: Active and existing security clearance required on day 1

Applied Signal Technology (AST) is seeking a Principal Mission / Systems Engineer who strives for excellence and has a passion to be part of a team that strengthens our nation and improves the security of our world. AST provides trusted strategic and tactical SIGINT solutions that secure the interests of the U.S. and its partners.

AST’s work in areas such as high-capacity broadband communications, signal processing and analysis, tactical SIGINT, and wireless communications continually challenge our extraordinary engineers to resolve problems and make the world a safer place. AST’s work environment is passionate, highly collaborative and provides engineers with the freedom to strengthen and expand their skills, explore new and creative ideas, and work closely with our nation’s finest service members all while embracing integrity, innovation, and work-life balance.

• You will collaborate with other experienced members in R&D on system development and deployments for the protection of our country.

• You will generate briefings and present material to team members, customers, and AST Management as necessary.

• You will be an integral part of a team that makes decisions and generates ideas that will push products above and beyond.

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and a minimum of 8 years of relevant prior experience

• Active and transferable U.S. government issued Top Secret SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance required prior to start date. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

• Minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in systems engineering including experience with design, development and testing of custom hardware and software systems of high complexity

• Experience interacting with development teams to resolve discrepancies and issues

• Experience identifying, analyzing, and resolving problems in all phases of the system lifecycle

• Experience with systems integration, test execution, and test results documentation

• Experience recognizing areas of improvement or customer needs and relaying them to senior staff as business development possibilities

• Experience working with customers, end users, hardware design teams, and software design teams

• Ability to work weekends and nights periodically to support integration and testing efforts

• Experience formalizing, developing, and writing requirements, plans, and procedures based on customer discussions, briefings, interactions, and statements of work

• Experience developing system level designs, high level control and data interfaces

• Experience with bid and proposal activities related to system development.

• Experience with RF, fiber optics, and/or telecommunications standards and processing techniques

• Experience with design, development, integration and test of complex communication systems

• Experience developing high speed processing hardware or complex control software

• Experience developing training courses and training others

• Experience with Linux scripting languages, such as Python or Bash

• Experience in generating test scripts to automate integration

• Understanding of telecommunications systems concepts and signal processing fundamentals

• Existing TS/SCI with polygraph (within the last 24 months)

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option ​

• Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection ​

• Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions ​

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. ​

Please ensure the role type defined below is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role. This position is classified as:

Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.

As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.

The salary range for this role is 118,300 USD - 224,900 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays.

Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.

Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company’s performance.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.