Lead, Software Engineering

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

Education assistance

Parental leave

Paid time off

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

L3Harris is seeking a Lead, Software Engineer to head rapid prototyping initiatives in Rochester, NY. You will architect and deliver quick-turn prototypes spanning software, radio, and hardware, guiding concepts to demonstrable capabilities for mission-focused communications.

You’ll mentor engineers, evaluate new technologies, and drive architectural decisions in a fast-paced environment, with a strong emphasis on autonomy and technical leadership. Security clearance eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 9+ years of experience or a graduate degree with 7+ years.
• In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 13 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate concepts and objectives into functional prototype capabilities for advanced military communications systems.
• Architect, design, develop, integrate, test, and refine multidisciplinary prototypes across software, hardware, radio, and system levels.
• Lead prototype efforts from concept through working demonstration in a rapid prototyping environment.
• Apply knowledge of software and hardware architectures to evaluate options and mature concepts.
• Troubleshoot complex issues across software, hardware, and interfaces with minimal supervision.
• Collaborate across software, hardware, RF, mechanical, field testing, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.
• Communicate progress, risks, and paths forward clearly to team members, leadership, customers, and end users.
• Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance

Skills

C/C++

Python

Rust

Embedded systems

Radio architectures

AI/ML

Networking concepts

Linux

FPGA/HDL

Education

Bachelor's degree with 9 years experience

Graduate degree with 7 years experience

13 years related experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Linux

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: Lead, Software Engineer

Job Code: 46203

Job Location: NY-Rochester

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly experienced Rapid Prototyping Engineer to join our Rapid Prototyping Group (RPG) and lead the development of innovative capabilities from concept through demonstration and transition. In this role, you will architect, design, build, integrate, test, and mature quick-turn prototypes that support proof-of-concept initiatives, emerging technology assessments, customer demonstrations, and early-stage product development. This position requires a broad engineering background spanning systems architecture and design, software and radio architectures, and hardware/software integration. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy while providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, helping shape solution strategies, drive architectural decisions, and ensure prototypes are scalable, mission-aligned, and positioned for future operational use.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader with broad engineering depth, strong systems thinking, and a demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments. You are comfortable balancing speed with sound engineering judgment, mentoring other engineers, evaluating and integrating new technologies, and guiding efforts through evolving requirements and complex technical challenges. You bring working knowledge of software development, radio architectures, system integration, and prototype development, along with the ability to connect multiple engineering disciplines into cohesive, mission-relevant solutions. If you are energized by solving hard problems, influencing technical direction, and rapidly transforming ideas into impactful capabilities, we encourage you to apply.

Essential Functions:

• Translate emerging concepts, customer needs, and experimental objectives into functional prototype and demonstration capabilities for advanced military communications systems, providing technical leadership in shaping approaches, architectures, and implementation strategies.
• Architect, design, develop, integrate, test, and refine multidisciplinary prototypes spanning software, hardware, radio, and system-level elements, ensuring robust and effective execution in demanding prototype environments.
• Lead the design, implementation, integration, test, and technical demonstration of complex subsystem and system-level capabilities in a rapid prototyping environment, driving efforts from initial concept through working demonstration.
• Apply working knowledge of software architectures, radio architectures, systems architecture and design, and hardware/software integration to evaluate technical options, identify tradeoffs, and mature concepts into operationally relevant capabilities.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues across software, hardware, and integrated system interfaces using appropriate development, test, and debug tools, isolating root causes and driving effective resolution with minimal oversight.
• Collaborate across software, hardware, RF, mechanical, field testing, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to evaluate interfaces, operational requirements, and technical constraints, while influencing solution direction and advancing concepts into demonstrable capabilities.
• Communicate technical progress, issues, risks, tradeoffs, and recommended paths forward clearly and effectively to team members, leadership, customers, and end users, while operating with a high degree of independence and exercising advanced engineering judgment in a fast-paced development environment.
• Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with 9 years prior experience, Graduate Degree with 7 years prior experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Broad technical knowledge across adjacent engineering disciplines, including software, hardware, RF, electrical interfaces, digital design concepts, embedded systems, and system integration for communications and prototype platforms.
• Working knowledge of software development practices and tools, including experience with embedded and Linux-based environments, debugging, integration, and development in languages such as C, C++, Python, Rust, or other relevant technologies.
• Familiarity with radio architectures, tactical communications systems, waveforms, networking interfaces, and operational applications relevant to military or mission-focused communications environments.
• Strong understanding of rapid prototyping processes, including iterative development, risk reduction, fast-turn integration, design trade studies, and engineering tradeoffs between speed, performance, scalability, and technical rigor.
• Experience applying AI/ML tools and techniques across the development lifecycle, including prototype capability enhancement, automation, model development, training, or decision support applications.
• Working knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and troubleshooting, including familiarity with IP-based systems, device configuration, integration, and emerging communications technologies such as 5G.
• Additional relevant experience may include FPGA or HDL development, microcontrollers, Linux kernel work, low-level communication interfaces, digital signal processing, test automation, or system bring-up and integration.

The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, Cleveland Ohio, Vermont and Virginia is $117,000 - $218,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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.

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