Life in Cedar Rapids 

Big opportunity. Easy living. Midwest charm.
From our state-of-the-art facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, our team develops navigation and guidance technology that helps protect warfighters and keep them informed. Cedar Rapids has been at the forefront of GPS innovation since the city received the first GPS signal in 1977. Today, we continue to advance this technology to support the most critical missions.

Outside of work, you’ll find an affordable, welcoming city rich in opportunity and built for putting down roots.  Here, your talent moves the mission, and your life, forward.

Join our team | Our facility and innovations | About the area | Five reasons to live and work in Cedar Rapids
Site spotlight. find out what it is like to live and work on the BAE Systems team in Cedar Rapids.

Join our GPS legacy:
Our teams design, test, and manufacture advanced GPS and anti-jam navigation products for the U.S. military and its allies. The technology supports airborne systems, precision-guided munitions, handheld receivers, space platforms, and ground vehicles across every branch of the armed forces.

Our work spans a broad range of functions, including:
•    Engineering and technology: systems, electrical, mechanical, software, and industrial engineers
•    Operations and manufacturing: assembly operators and quality inspection
•    Business functions: program managers, contracts, business development, supply chain, and finance
•    Early Career: engineering co-ops, development programs and internships
Apply today
Interior of a modern BAE Systems facility with branded banners, open walkways, and collaborative spaces.

What to expect:
This is the kind of place where your work carries weight, your growth is taken seriously, and your life outside work still has room to be your own. Here's what the day-to-day looks like:

•    Meaningful work, real ownership: You'll see GPS and navigation projects through from start to finish, hands-on work that service members depend on in the field. Experienced colleagues are there to guide you as mentors, not just alongside you.
•    Flexibility built in: Many roles offer hybrid schedules, shift options, and alternating Fridays off
•    Benefits and recognition that hold up: Paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, an employee assistance program, recognition initiatives, internal mobility support and more are all part of the package
Explore benefits

Facility and innovations

 The Cedar Rapids facility is a 77,000-square-foot, purpose-built campus, completed in 2021 and was designed from the ground up for precision manufacturing and advanced engineering. It allows us to deliver flexible, efficient, and highly reliable navigation and guidance solutions for airborne systems, precision guided-munitions, handheld receivers, and embedded applications.

The site features:
•    A microelectronics lab and automated circuit card assembly lines
•    Co-bots and integrated testing areas;
•    Multiple engineering labs, classified workspaces, and a fully equipped machine shop;
•    One-of-a-kind Raydome for simulating live air testing environments
•    A military-grade GPS truck used for testing, business development and community outreach
•    A scenic 1-mile walking path around the building
•    24/7 employee gym with locker rooms
•    Made-to-order cafeteria and food truck hookups

GPS products
By leveraging our expertise and development across the breadth of our company, we deliver advanced GPS and radio navigation technology to meet all mission requirements.
Learn more
"BAE Systems paid for me to get my entire master's degree when I was expecting, which is so awesome. We also do a ton in the community. That's something that I'm really passionate about."

- Caitlin A., Human Resources Project Manager

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BAE Systems employee stands for a head shot.
"We work together to solve tough challenges and deliver what other companies can’t. In our business, three things set BAE Systems apart: our solutions are trusted, secure and assured. When it matters most, customers know our technology will perform as expected, even in RF-challenged environments."

- Charles P., Technical Fellow
Two BAE Systems employees speaking in a manufacturing facility.
"What we get here in Cedar Rapids is a real opportunity for authenticity and a genuine commitment to see the success in others. And the fact that we want to build one another up helps us build the best for our customer."

- Josh H., Contracts Manager
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BAE Systems employee portrait in a bright office setting with an Iowa state flag behind him.
Cedar Rapids, IA

About The City of Five Seasons

Cedar Rapids calls itself the City of Five Seasons. The fifth? Time to enjoy the other four. It's a simple idea, but it says something about life here.

Spring brings farmers markets and bike trails. Summer means minor league baseball and backyard grills. In fall, the leaves turn bright colors and college football takes over the weekend. Winter brings hockey and the kind of cold that makes a warm brewery feel like a reward.

The Corridor Communities of Coralville and Iowa City are just down the road. The University of Iowa brings research excellence to the region, while Iowa State University adds engineering talent and campus spirit a short drive west. The two schools share a friendly rivalry, and both bring energy, skilled graduates and culture to the area. Locals happily pick sides, then get right back to cheering for the region as a whole.

Cedar Rapids runs on what Iowans call "Iowa nice." It isn't a slogan. People here simply help each other. The cost of living stays low, the schools are strong and housing is affordable enough to build a life, not just get by. Neighbors know each other. That's not a coincidence; it's just how the area works.
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Five reasons to live and work in Cedar Rapids

 If you want to build a career with real purpose and a life with room to grow, Cedar Rapids offers both.
Affordability: Housing costs sit well below national averages. Whether you are looking in Cedar Rapids or across the broader Iowa Corridor, including Coralville and Iowa City, there is a neighborhood that fits your stage of life. Where will you plant your roots?

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Tree-lined residential street with modern homes
A great place to raise a family: The term "Iowa nice" is not a myth. Cedar Rapids is genuinely friendly and focused on families. Neighbors wave, strangers say hello, and the strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and accessible healthcare make it easy to feel at home.

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Family carving a pumpkin together on a front porch
Distinct seasons: Iowa's seasons are real: fall color that stops you in the middle of a drive; snowy mornings that make the weekend feel earned; and long summer days that stretch well past dinner. People here don't just tolerate the seasons; they plan around them.

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Four-panel tree collage showing spring, summer, fall, and winter
A city with GPS in its DNA: Cedar Rapids is where GPS technology was born. The first GPS signal was received here in 1977, and that legacy never left. Working in this city means joining a lineage that has guided warfighters for decades, with innovation that is still shaping the future of navigation.
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BAE Systems tactical GPS device in use inside a vehicle
Convenient connections: Like to explore? Whether you're looking to see what the Midwest has to offer or make sure you are home for the holidays, Cedar Rapids has options. Its regional airport offers nonstop flights to major U.S. cities, while Chicago, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City and St. Louis are all within a comfortable drive.
Suitcase, backpack, and tripod at an airport gate with a plane outside, highlighting convenient trave

Cedar Rapids nearby attractions

•     Sports and Entertainment: Cedar Rapids Kernels (baseball), Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (hockey), University of Iowa Hawkeyes events, Iowa State Cyclones events, Alliant Energy PowerHouse, Paramount Theatre, McGrath Amphitheatre, Hancher Auditorium
•    Outdoor Recreation: Palisades-Kepler State Park, Cedar River, Coralville Lake, Lake Macbride State Park, Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Valley Nature Trail
•     Arts and Science: Czech Village and New Bohemia, Farmers Market and NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, African American Museum of Iowa