Director, Engineering Management (HW Engineering Discipline Lead)

L3Harris Technologies; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Fort Wayne, IN seeks a Director of Engineering Management to lead a 200+ person hardware organization within the Spectral Solutions division of Space Systems. The role emphasizes strategic vision, talent development, and balancing technical performance with cost, schedule and manufacturability.

The ideal leader will drive cross-discipline excellence across mechanical, electrical and optical systems, while partnering with executives and customers to align priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or graduate degree with extensive experience in mechanical/electrical/aerospace engineering.
• Graduate degree with 13+ years of related experience; or 19 years of related experience in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI clearance.
• Experience leading large engineering teams across multiple hardware disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large hardware engineering organization across mechanical, thermal, structural, materials, analog, digital, power, reliability and radiation disciplines.
• Provide leadership across the full product lifecycle from capture to post-delivery support.
• Drive execution for space programs from high-reliability missions to rapid demonstration efforts.
• Develop strategy for technology, talent growth, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with business, program, supply chain and technical leaders.
• Communicate with executives, customers and technical teams to align vision and priorities.
• Travel 10%–20% as required.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Electro-optical payloads

Infrared payloads

ECAD

MCAD

Cost estimating

Earned Value Management

Lean principles

Supply chain collaboration

High-reliability systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace engineering or related field

Graduate degree with 13+ years of related experience

19 years of related experience in lieu of degree

Tools

ECAD

MCAD

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Director, Engineering Management (HW Engineering Discipline Lead)

Job Code: 45829

Job Location: Fort Wayne, IN

Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off)

Job Description

For more than 60 years, L3Harris Technologies has been at the forefront of space innovation, developing mission critical technologies for missile warning and weather detection that protect lives and property around the world every day. We are currently seeking a highly accomplished engineering leader to oversee a large, multi-disciplinary hardware organization within our growing Spectral Solutions division within the Space Systems Sector. This role leads 200+ engineers across mechanical and electrical disciplines supporting the development and delivery of advanced infrared payloads and space vehicle systems for the missile defense and global weather missions.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical credibility, proven organizational leadership, and the ability to operate both strategically and tactically. This leader will define and communicate a compelling vision, influence senior leaders, and build a high-performing engineering organization through effective hiring, mentoring, and talent development.

This role is central to shaping the future of space hardware development as the market continues to evolve from bespoke, exquisite systems toward more proliferated and production-oriented architectures. The successful candidate will bring the judgment to balance technical performance with cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission assurance.

This position is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a Northeast Indiana engineering hub offering an average commute of under 20 minutes, a housing market consistently recognized as among the more affordable in the U.S., an extensive parks and trail system, and a growing downtown that features local restaurants, arts, and year-round community events.

Essential Functions

• Lead a large, geographically distributed hardware engineering organization spanning mechanical, thermal, structural, materials, analog, digital, power, reliability, and radiation disciplines
• Provide leadership across the full product lifecycle, including capture, design, procurement, assembly, integration, test, qualification, delivery, and post-delivery support
• Drive execution across a portfolio of space programs ranging from exquisite, high-reliability missions to faster-turn demonstration efforts
• Develop and execute organizational strategy for technology, talent growth and succession, and continuous improvement
• Partner with business, program, supply chain, and technical leaders
• Communicate effectively with executives, customers, and technical teams to align vision, priorities, and execution
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance
• Willingness to travel 10% - 20%

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field with a minimum of 15 years of prior relevant experience; or Graduate Degree with a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience; or in lieu of a degree, 19 years of prior related experience

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience with electro-optical or infrared payload systems
• Experience leading large engineering teams across multiple hardware disciplines
• Experience in space hardware or other high-reliability mission technology development
• Experience with complex space-based designs including electro-optical payloads
• Experience with design for manufacturability, low-rate initial production, and transitioning from development to production
• Experience with ECAD, MCAD, and configuration management
• Experience with cost estimating, resource planning, and Earned Value Management
• Experience using leading indicators and metrics to drive product or organizational improvement
• Demonstrated success scaling teams and building talent pipelines in support of growth
• Experience applying lean principles, modern tools, and process improvements to engineering organizations
• Experience working with supply chain and manufacturing to support supplier development, production readiness, and product acceptance
• Experience developing new products for NASA, NOAA, USSF or other high-reliability customers

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre‑employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.