Lead, Systems Engineer (Mission Payload)

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. seeks a Lead, Systems Engineer to guide the development of a space-based EO/IR sensor payload. You will lead requirements, interfaces, and system analyses across lifecycle while coordinating across payload, optics, electronics, and software teams.

The role emphasizes technical leadership, rigorous systems engineering, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to meet customer and program objectives. Fort Wayne, IN onsite.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM required or higher with extensive relevant experience.
• Minimum 9 years of experience in systems engineering or related field; or 7 years with graduate degree.
• Ability to obtain DoD Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead systems engineering efforts for a space-based EO/IR mission payload system across concept, development, integration, test, and verification phases.
• Develop, decompose, allocate, and manage system and subsystem requirements with traceability.
• Define, document, and manage interfaces, including ICDs and verification approaches.
• Perform system-level analyses to assess performance, risk, operability, and requirements conformance.
• Coordinate with payload, optics, focal plane, electronics, software, mechanical, I&T, and operations teams.
• Lead or support technical reviews (SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR).
• Ensure engineering products are complete, consistent, and compliant with processes and customer expectations.
• Identify technical risks and mitigation plans; communicate status to leadership.
• Support verification and validation planning with cross-reference matrices and demonstrations.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering staff.

Skills

Systems Engineering

Technical Leadership

Cross-functional Collaboration

Requirements Management

MBSE

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

DoD Secret clearance eligibility

Tools

DOORS

MBSE tools (Cameo)

Jama

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, Systems Engineer – Mission Payload

Job Code:

46150

Job Location:

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Job Schedule:

9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)

Job Description:

L3Harris is seeking a Lead, Systems Engineer to support development of a space-based Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor system. This position will play a key technical leadership role across the system lifecycle, with primary emphasis on requirements development and management, interface definition and control, and system-level analysis.

The successful candidate will work across cross-functional engineering teams to ensure mission, payload, subsystem, and external interfaces are clearly defined, traceable, verifiable, and aligned to customer and program objectives. This role is well-suited for an engineer with strong experience in systems engineering rigor, technical coordination, and development of complex space or remote sensing systems.

This position is in Fort Wayne: https://careers.l3harris.com/en/Fort-Wayne

Essential Functions:

• Lead systems engineering efforts for a space-based EO/IR mission payload system across concept, development, integration, test, and verification phases.
• Develop, decompose, allocate, and manage system and subsystem requirements in accordance with program and customer needs.
• Establish and maintain requirements traceability from mission objectives through system architecture, subsystem specifications, and verification methods.
• Define, document, and manage internal and external interfaces, including development of Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and interface verification approaches.
• Perform and coordinate system-level analyses to assess performance, functionality, risk, operability, and compliance to requirements.
• Support system architecture definition and technical baseline maturation for EO/IR payload solutions.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams including payload, optics, focal plane, electronics, software, mechanical, integration and test, and mission operations engineering.
• Lead or support technical reviews such as SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and other lifecycle reviews.
• Ensure systems engineering products are complete, consistent, and compliant with internal processes and customer expectations.
• Identify technical risks, develop mitigation plans, and communicate status to engineering and program leadership.
• Support verification and validation planning, including requirements verification cross-reference matrices and test/analysis inspection demonstrations.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers on systems engineering methods, tools, and best practices.
• Job is onsite in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related STEM discipline and a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or a Graduate degree and a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Ability to obtain DoD Secret security clearance

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience with space-based EO/IR systems, remote sensing payloads, or electro-optical mission systems.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, DOORS Next, Jama, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, or similar.
• Experience serving as an Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL) or in another technical leadership role.
• Experience creating and managing ICDs, verification matrices, and technical baselines.
• Understanding of spacecraft-to-payload interfaces and mission operations considerations.
• Experience supporting major program technical reviews and customer interactions.
• Active security clearance
• Experience in systems engineering for complex aerospace, defense, or space-based systems.
• Experience developing and managing requirements at system and subsystem levels.
• Experience defining and managing interfaces across hardware, software, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience performing or coordinating system analysis, trade studies, or mission/performance assessments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to present technical content to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional integrated product environment.

#LI-ZB1

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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