Software Systems Engineer Jobs
Software Systems Engineer jobs are open across defense, aerospace, enterprise software, telecommunications, and embedded systems, from new-grad to principal and staff engineer, with specializations in real-time systems, systems architecture, and firmware integration. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 662+ Software Systems Engineer jobs
Date Posted:
2026-05-20Country:
United States of AmericaLocation:
US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-124 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 124Position Role Type:
OnsiteU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.Security Clearance Type:
None/Not RequiredSecurity Clearance Status:
Not RequiredAt RTX, the world 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 the Collins Aerospace Core Systems & Libraries team and help develop the software backbone that powers modern aircraft.
We are seeking a Software Engineer II who is eager to grow, enjoys solving complex technical problems, and wants to contribute to high-impact, safety-critical aerospace systems.
In this role, you will develop and support core software components, libraries, and tools that enable scalable, certifiable avionics platforms. You’ll work across the software lifecycle, collaborating with experienced engineers and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions aligned with civil and military certification standards.
This is a strong opportunity to deepen your technical expertise, gain exposure to system-level design, and contribute to technologies shaping the future of aerospace.
This role is located onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
What You Will Do
Develop the architecture and design of core software components, libraries, and tooling aligned to avionics system requirements
Drive technical direction and execution across development and verification activities for safety-critical software (DO-178)
Develop software requirements, decomposition, and traceability across complex systems
Develop and verify software using modern C++ and object-oriented design principles
Develop DO-178 certification artifacts, including DAL-A deliverables
Perform certification efforts, including engagement with customers and regulatory authorities
Conduct and contribute to peer reviews to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance across the lifecycle
Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, program leadership, and customers to align technical solutions with program objectives
Willing and Able to travel as required (domestic and international <10%).
What You Will Learn
Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of avionics and aerospace systems
Build end-to-end expertise across the full product lifecycle, from requirements and design through verification and delivery of safety-critical systems
Develop a deep understanding of software certification (DO-178) and how world-class avionics products meet rigorous regulatory standards
Learn how to design, scale, and sustain software product lines that support a wide range of platforms and global customers
Qualifications You Must Have
Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
Proven experience designing and developing software architecture, libraries, or platform-level components within an aerospace or safety-critical environment
Experience/exposure supporting DO-178 software development and certification activities (e.g., requirements, verification, or certification artifacts)
Qualifications We Prefer
Experience with C++ and VxWorks. Linux, and Windows OS
Experience writing High-Level and/or Low-Level Requirements.
Experience writing Test Cases and Automated Test Procedures.
Experience with Civil Certification DO-178 – DAL A preferred.
Experience with design and development of Flight Management Systems, Software, Aircraft Applications or Middleware.
Familiar with revision control concepts and tools (e.g. GIT, Subversion, JIRA).
What We Offer
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
And more!
Learn More & Apply Now!
Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today.
Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.
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.
At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other - propel us all higher, again and again.
Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.
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.
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.
Privacy Policy and Terms:
Date Posted:
2026-05-20Country:
United States of AmericaLocation:
US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-124 ~ 400 Collins Rd NE ~ BLDG 124Position Role Type:
OnsiteU.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.Security Clearance Type:
None/Not RequiredSecurity Clearance Status:
Not RequiredAt RTX, the world 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 the Collins Aerospace Core Systems & Libraries team and help develop the software backbone that powers modern aircraft.
We are seeking a Software Engineer II who is eager to grow, enjoys solving complex technical problems, and wants to contribute to high-impact, safety-critical aerospace systems.
In this role, you will develop and support core software components, libraries, and tools that enable scalable, certifiable avionics platforms. You’ll work across the software lifecycle, collaborating with experienced engineers and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality solutions aligned with civil and military certification standards.
This is a strong opportunity to deepen your technical expertise, gain exposure to system-level design, and contribute to technologies shaping the future of aerospace.
This role is located onsite in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
What You Will Do
Develop the architecture and design of core software components, libraries, and tooling aligned to avionics system requirements
Drive technical direction and execution across development and verification activities for safety-critical software (DO-178)
Develop software requirements, decomposition, and traceability across complex systems
Develop and verify software using modern C++ and object-oriented design principles
Develop DO-178 certification artifacts, including DAL-A deliverables
Perform certification efforts, including engagement with customers and regulatory authorities
Conduct and contribute to peer reviews to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance across the lifecycle
Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, program leadership, and customers to align technical solutions with program objectives
Willing and Able to travel as required (domestic and international <10%).
What You Will Learn
Gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of avionics and aerospace systems
Build end-to-end expertise across the full product lifecycle, from requirements and design through verification and delivery of safety-critical systems
Develop a deep understanding of software certification (DO-178) and how world-class avionics products meet rigorous regulatory standards
Learn how to design, scale, and sustain software product lines that support a wide range of platforms and global customers
Qualifications You Must Have
Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field
U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.
Proven experience designing and developing software architecture, libraries, or platform-level components within an aerospace or safety-critical environment
Experience/exposure supporting DO-178 software development and certification activities (e.g., requirements, verification, or certification artifacts)
Qualifications We Prefer
Experience with C++ and VxWorks. Linux, and Windows OS
Experience writing High-Level and/or Low-Level Requirements.
Experience writing Test Cases and Automated Test Procedures.
Experience with Civil Certification DO-178 – DAL A preferred.
Experience with design and development of Flight Management Systems, Software, Aircraft Applications or Middleware.
Familiar with revision control concepts and tools (e.g. GIT, Subversion, JIRA).
What We Offer
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
And more!
Learn More & Apply Now!
Avionics delivers advanced cockpit displays, vision systems, and comprehensive digital solutions for global government, commercial and business aviation customers. We provide connectivity and managed data services to ensure safety and seamless communication for passengers, crews, and militaries, from aircraft and airports to air traffic management. Join us in creating solutions that connect the world, one flight at a time. Start your application today.
Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.
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.
At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form – with our customers and with each other - propel us all higher, again and again.
Apply now and be part of the team that’s redefining aerospace, every day.
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.
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.
Privacy Policy and Terms:
Software Systems Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
Top Cities Hiring Software Systems Engineers
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Find JobsSoftware Systems Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Apple48
- Meta19
- NVIDIA19
- Tesla16
- OpenAI14
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software40
- Electronics & Hardware35
- Science & Research12
- Aerospace & Defense5
- Banking & Financial Services5
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in software systems engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- Proficiency in C, C++, or Python for systems-level development
- Experience designing or integrating real-time or embedded systems
- Familiarity with Linux internals, networking protocols, or hardware interfaces
- Ability to obtain or hold a security clearance, depending on the sector
- Experience with systems modeling tools, test frameworks, or CI/CD pipelines for systems code
Tips for Your Software Systems Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to each domain
Defense and aerospace postings often require different technical depth than enterprise software roles. Highlight domain-relevant experience like RTOS, hardware-software interfaces, or distributed systems explicitly, rather than relying on a generic systems engineering summary.
Quantify system-level design decisions
Hiring managers for this role want to see outcomes, not just tools. Call out latency improvements, reliability gains, or scale metrics that resulted from architecture choices you owned. Numbers tied to system behavior are more compelling than tool lists.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists software systems engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Read job postings for unspoken stack signals
Software systems engineer postings rarely list every tool, but phrases like 'bare-metal,' 'hypervisor,' or 'FPGA integration' tell you exactly what the team runs. Match your application language to those signals, even when the tool isn't called out as a hard requirement.
Prepare a system design walkthrough story
Most technical interviews for this role include at least one deep-dive on a past project. Practice walking through requirements, constraints, your design decision, the tradeoffs you rejected, and how the system performed post-deployment. Judges will probe the tradeoffs hardest.
Negotiate scope, not just base pay
Systems engineering offers often have flexibility in technical scope, on-call rotation, and tooling budget that doesn't appear in the initial package. Once you have an offer, ask directly about ownership over architecture decisions and access to performance testing infrastructure.
Software Systems Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most software systems engineers?
The companies hiring the most software systems engineers right now include Apple, Meta, and NVIDIA, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Demand is particularly concentrated in defense contracting, enterprise infrastructure, and telecommunications.
How many software systems engineer jobs are remote?
About 50% of software systems engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, though the share varies significantly by specialization. Roles focused on cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, and enterprise software tend to offer more remote flexibility, while embedded systems, firmware, and cleared defense roles are more likely to require on-site or secure-facility work.
How do you become a software systems engineer?
Most software systems engineers start with a degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or systems engineering, then gain hands-on experience through internships or entry-level roles in firmware, backend infrastructure, or embedded development. Building depth in one domain, such as real-time systems or distributed architecture, and demonstrating end-to-end ownership of a system component are the steps that typically move candidates into a dedicated systems engineering title.
Can you get hired as a software systems engineer without much experience?
Yes, entry-level software systems engineer roles exist, especially at companies with structured rotation or associate engineering programs. The most effective path without direct experience is to build a portfolio that shows systems thinking: a documented side project involving an OS, networking stack, or embedded controller, with clear explanation of design constraints and tradeoffs, carries more weight than coursework alone.
What does the software systems engineer interview process look like?
The process typically includes a recruiter screen, a technical phone or video interview covering data structures and systems concepts, and a multi-stage onsite or virtual loop. Expect at least one session focused on system design, where you'll be asked to architect a component under real-world constraints. Roles in defense or cleared environments often add a background review stage before or alongside the technical rounds.
Where can I find and apply to software systems engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to software systems engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 662+ Software Systems Engineer Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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