Snr Principal Systems Engineer- Modelling & Simulation– Unmanned Systems

Job Overview

At Collins Aerospace, we are advancing technologies that help redefine aerospace and defense. From intelligent systems to complex mission capability, our teams work on solutions that protect, connect and support customers operating in some of the most demanding environments in the world.

We are looking for an experienced Snr Principal Systems Engineer - Modelling & Simulation– Unmanned Systems to play a key technical leadership role in the design, development, test and demonstration of complex unmanned air systems.

This is a role for someone who enjoys working at the sharp edge of engineering: building high‑fidelity models, developing flight‑critical control laws, validating systems through SIL/HIL testing, supporting field trials, and mentoring the next generation of modelling and simulation engineers.

You will work across the full lifecycle, from customer requirements and concept development through to simulation, embedded implementation, Iron Bird testing, flight trials and in‑field demonstrations.

• Design high‑fidelity 6‑DOF digital models of complex unmanned systems, accurately representing vehicle dynamics, behaviours and mission performance.
• Use Model‑Based Systems Engineering to inform, drive and verify system design decisions.
• Develop, test, tune and deploy flight‑critical control laws and autonomy functions for unmanned aircraft.
• Create resilient trajectory guidance, mission tasking, and GNSS‑denied navigation algorithms.
• Build simulation environments that bring together vehicle dynamics, control laws, payloads, sensors, communications and navigation models.
• Support Software‑in‑the‑Loop, Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop and full‑scale aircraft systems testbed activity, including Iron Bird development and validation.
• Implement and compile control and autonomy code onto embedded systems.
• Define and integrate onboard data communication interfaces, including CAN bus, serial and Ethernet networks.
• Develop human control interfaces for test pilots and ground operators managing unmanned systems.
• Support experimental flight testing, including test procedures, live control tuning, post‑flight analysis and real‑time data review.
• Design rapid analysis tools and scripts to process UAS flight logs during trials and debugging activity.
• Diagnose, fault‑find and repair complex UAS onboard control systems in both lab and field environments.
• Review and contribute to systems architectures, CONOPS and simulation‑based test scenarios.
• Identify technical risks and develop practical mitigation plans.
• Support the use of export‑controlled technologies, including designs subject to US ITAR controls.
• Act as a technical mentor, guiding junior engineers through design, verification, validation, system test and demonstration activities.

• Complex UAS architecture and mission system development.
• Advanced autonomy and guidance approaches for contested or GNSS‑denied environments.
• Multi‑asset CONOPS simulation and representative vignette testing.
• Embedded deployment of control and autonomy code.
• Flight test campaigns, field demonstrations and rapid engineering support in live environments.
• Aerospace and defense engineering governance, including safety, certification, export control and customer requirements.
• Leadership of specialist engineering teams delivering high‑quality technical output to time, cost and quality expectations.

• A degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics, or equivalent experience.
• Significant relevant experience in complex aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomy or unmanned systems environments.
• Expert capability in MATLAB and Simulink.
• Strong experience using Stateflow for state‑machine driven system design.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink projects, including requirements, version control, data dictionaries, test harnesses and model validation.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink code generation for embedded processor deployment.
• Experience integrating and validating UAV flight control computers, autopilots or flight management systems.
• Experience creating automated scripts for test data processing and analysis.
• Experience developing simulation model test…