Lead, Systems Engineer - Space Vehicle Operations and Training Lead

L3Harris Technologies; Palm Bay (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies is seeking a Lead, Space Vehicle Operations & Training Lead for Palm Bay, Florida, to provide technical leadership for LEOPS supporting a constellation of developmental spacecraft. The role directs spacecraft operations, procedures, training products, and mission-support documentation while providing day-to-day technical directions to the LEOPS team.

The candidate interfaces with Space Operations, Engineering, Program Management, and customers to ensure deliverables are

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required or equivalent experience.
• Active TS/SCI w/ CI Poly required.
• Experience in spacecraft/satellite operations or related space operations environment.
• Experience developing, reviewing, validating, or executing spacecraft operating procedures or mission documentation.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in mission-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead LEOPS team with day-to-day technical guidance and mentorship.
• Oversee development, validation, and release of spacecraft operating procedures, training curricula, and mission-support docs.
• Coordinate readiness and execution of operations, training, and mission-support activities.
• Manage CDRL deliverables to meet contractual and customer requirements.
• Interface with Space Operations, Engineering, Program Management, and customer to ensure on-time deliveries.

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 – Space Vehicle Operations & Training Lead

Job Code

45908

Job Location

Palm Bay, Florida

Job Schedule

9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)

Job Description

L3Harris Technologies is seeking an experienced Space Vehicle Operations & Training Lead to provide technical leadership for Low-Earth-Orbit Operations (LEOPS) supporting a constellation of developmental spacecraft. This position will lead the development and execution of spacecraft operations, operating procedures, training products, and mission-support documentation while providing day-to-day technical directions to the LEOPS operations team. The selected candidate will serve as a key interface between Space Operations, Engineering, Program Management, and the customer to ensure operational products, training requirements, and Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables are developed, integrated, and delivered in support of program milestones and mission execution. The position requires an experienced space operations professional capable of leading multidisciplinary teams in a high-tempo environment while maintaining the technical rigor required for safe and effective spacecraft command and control. The candidate will also support and sustain on-site 24 × 7 LEOPS activities during designated mission periods.

Essential Functions

• Lead the LEOPS team and provide day-to-day technical guidance, mentorship, prioritization, and coordination of spacecraft operations activities.
• Direct the development, technical review, validation, configuration control, and release of spacecraft operating procedures, training curricula, lesson materials, and mission-support documentation.
• Lead development and maintenance of operations and training products supporting spacecraft initialization, checkout, commissioning, nominal operations, contingency operations, and anomaly response.
• Author, maintain, coordinate, and control LEOPS-related CDRL deliverables, ensuring products meet contractual, technical, schedule, and customer requirements.
• Serve as the primary Space Operations interface for Integrated Mission System (IMS) inputs, ensuring assigned activities, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables are accurately represented and delivered on schedule.
• Coordinate across Space Vehicle Engineering, Ground Systems, Mission Planning, Training, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and customer organizations to ensure operational readiness.
• Support spacecraft command-and-control activities, including telemetry monitoring and analysis, commanding, mission planning, contact execution, and anomaly resolution.
• Lead technical reviews of operating procedures and training products to ensure accuracy, completeness, configuration alignment, and operational usability.
• Identify operational risks, training gaps, procedure deficiencies, and integration dependencies and coordinate corrective actions with appropriate stakeholders.
• Support test, rehearsal, certification, and mission-readiness activities leading to spacecraft launch and on-orbit operations.
• Execute and sustain 24 × 7 on-site LEOPS operations during designated mission periods, including shift coverage, anomaly response, spacecraft C2 execution, and real-time customer coordination.
• Provide technical status, risks, dependencies, and recommendations to program and customer leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Active TS/SCI w/ CI Poly required.
• 4+ years of experience in spacecraft/satellite operations, satellite command and control (C2), mission operations, or a directly related space operations environment.
• 3+ years of experience developing, reviewing, validating, or executing spacecraft operating procedures, mission procedures, technical orders, or comparable mission-support documentation.
• 2+ years of experience developing, delivering, or evaluating technical training for spacecraft operators, mission controllers, or similar technical personnel.
• 2+ years of experience leading, supervising, or providing technical directions to multidisciplinary teams in mission-critical, high-tempo, or safety-critical operational environments.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Previous experience leading Launch and Early Orbit Operations (LEOP/LEOPS), spacecraft commissioning, or early on-orbit checkout activities.
• Experience supporting operations of Low-Earth-Orbit spacecraft or proliferated satellite constellations.
• Experience developing and managing Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL) deliverables.
• Experience developing Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) inputs, identifying dependencies, and coordinating schedule execution.
• Experience with spacecraft telemetry analysis, commanding, ground-system configuration, contact scheduling, and anomaly resolution.
• Experience developing training using formal Instructional Systems Design (ISD) methodologies such as ADDIE.
• Experience developing qualification/certification programs, training plans, evaluation criteria, and operator certification standards.
• Experience supporting spacecraft integration and test, mission rehearsals, readiness reviews, or operational acceptance activities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to brief technical and operational information to program leadership and 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.

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