Manager, System Engineering

L3Harris Technologies; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 237,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education assistance

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Carlsbad, CA seeks a Manager of Systems Engineering to lead a new group for the Tactical Data Link portfolio, blending hands‑on engineering with people leadership.

You will develop long‑term roadmaps, manage lifecycle sustainment, and coordinate across Design, Program Management, Business Development, Production and Depot Operations to meet program commitments and evolve capabilities. Travel 5–10% may be required.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in engineering or related field with extensive systems engineering experience.
• Experience leading engineers and technical personnel.
• Knowledge of Tactical Data Link (TDL) technologies and electronic communications.
• Active US Secret security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on technical work roughly 75% of the time and lead 8–15 engineers 25% of the time.
• Develop and maintain long-term product roadmaps aligning customer needs with technology evolution.
• Oversee sustainment engineering, including troubleshooting and field issues across the TDL portfolio.
• Translate customer feedback into prioritized requirements and lifecycle initiatives.
• Collaborate across Engineering Leadership, Program Management, Business Development, and Operations.
• Manage staffing, budgets, schedules, and risk for product strategy efforts.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

TDL knowledge

Security clearance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Degree

13 years experience in lieu of degree

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: Manager, Systems Engineering

Job Code: 46927

Job Location: Carlsbad, CA

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

Job Description:

L3Harris Technologies Inc. is seeking an experienced, highly organized, detail-oriented Product Strategy & Lifecycle Engineering Manager to establish and lead a new group supporting the Tactical Data Link (TDL) product portfolio. The group will focus on product-line direction, long-term planning, and customer-facing sustainment engineering to support current needs and future opportunities.

This is a working managerial position requiring the candidate to perform technical tasks approximately 75% of the time and provide leadership, direction, and oversight to a team of approximately 8–15 engineers and technical personnel approximately 25% of the time. The candidate and team will be accountable for technical product roadmaps, lifecycle planning, sustainment engineering, and resolution of customer-facing technical challenges across the TDL product portfolio. The manager will also ensure activities are appropriately staffed, resourced, and prioritized to support program commitments, customer needs, and long-term product objectives.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on systems engineering and leadership skills, experience supporting products throughout their lifecycle, and the ability to translate customer needs into actionable technical priorities. This role requires close collaboration with Design & Development Engineering, Project Engineers, Program Managers, Business Development, and Production and Depot Operations to align product strategy, sustainment activities, and future capabilities with business objectives.

Essential Functions:

• Perform hands‑on technical work approximately 75% of the time and provide management, leadership, and oversight approximately 25% of the time for a team of approximately 8–15 engineers and technical personnel.
• Lead product‑line technical direction and develop and maintain long‑term product roadmaps that align customer needs, sustainment requirements, technology evolution, and future business opportunities.
• Apply systems engineering expertise and knowledge of electronic communications and Tactical Data Link (TDL) technologies to product planning, technical assessments, and lifecycle support.
• Oversee and coordinate customer‑facing sustainment engineering, including technical inquiries, troubleshooting, platform integration support, and resolution of field, production, and depot issues.
• Translate customer feedback, operational needs, and product performance trends into prioritized technical requirements, product improvements, and lifecycle initiatives.
• Collaborate with Engineering Leadership, Program Management, and Business Development to align product priorities, develop technical proposals and estimates, and establish achievable budgets and schedules.
• Ensure the group is appropriately staffed and resourced to meet program milestones, customer commitments, and long‑term product objectives.
• Manage technical, schedule, and cost performance for assigned product strategy and lifecycle engineering efforts, including proposal reviews, cost estimates, and risk mitigation.
• Attract, hire, retain, and develop top talent while fostering a culture of innovation, execution, transparency, accountability, and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship, technical guidance, performance feedback, and professional growth opportunities for team members.
• Work closely with Design & Development Engineering, Production, and Depot Operations to support product transitions, sustainment improvements, obsolescence management, and configuration changes using established company processes.
• Oversee the maintenance of technical documentation, including interface control documents, operating and maintenance documentation, and lifecycle support information.
• Communicate technical priorities, product plans, risks, and recommendations effectively to customers, engineering teams, program leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to travel approximately 5–10% of the time.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with 9 years prior systems engineering experience, Graduate Degree with 7 years prior systems engineering experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related systems engineering experience.
• Active US Secret security clearance.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Comprehensive systems engineering experience with high‑reliability electronic communications products, including Tactical Data Link (TDL) systems, product integration, and lifecycle sustainment.

• Extensive experience in the defense industry supporting government and/or DoD customers, particularly with Tactical Data Link (TDL) systems and military communications products.
• Experience developing product‑line strategies, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle plans that balance current customer commitments with future capability and business opportunities.
• Experience leading engineers and technical personnel while assessing current and future workloads to ensure appropriate staffing, skills, and equipment are available.
• Hands‑on experience with communications electronics integration, testing, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting, including familiarity with standard electronic test and measurement equipment.
• Experience supporting production, depot, and field sustainment activities, including obsolescence management, configuration management, and product improvements.
• Ability to translate customer feedback and operational challenges into actionable engineering priorities through collaboration with Engineering, Program Management, Business Development, and Operations.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and follow‑through, with a proactive, collaborative, customer‑focused approach and a sense of urgency in resolving technical issues.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $127,500 - $236,500. 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.

#LI-BR1

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.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.