Manager, Systems Engineering

L3Harris Technologies; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education assistance

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in San Diego is seeking a Systems Engineering Manager for T&RF to lead a multidisciplinary team of 10–12 engineers across space and defense programs. You will own system requirements, architecture, interface control, and verification planning from capture through production and sustainment.

You will drive MBSE adoption, coordinate with cross‑functional groups, and oversee staffing, budgets, and schedules while ensuring compliance with defense standards and customer

Qualifications

• Active Secret Security Clearance.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field with 12+ years experience (10+ with graduate degree; 16+ if no degree).
• Experience leading systems engineering for RF/space payloads and complex aerospace programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a systems engineering team of 10–12 direct reports across multiple programs.
• Own requirements decomposition, COA/operations concept, architecture, interface control, verification planning, and technical baseline management from capture through production.
• Drive adoption of model-based systems engineering and digital engineering with SysML modeling to improve traceability and verification readiness.
• Collaborate with Program Management, Chief Engineers, Product Line Leaders, Software, and other functions to meet cost, schedule, and technical objectives.
• Support customer engagements, design reviews, and proposal activities for DoD, IC, civil, and commercial space opportunities.
• Balance staffing, priorities, budgets, and development plans across multiple efforts while meeting milestones and commitments.
• Ensure systems artifacts comply with contract requirements and applicable standards.
• Lead technical trade studies, risk and opportunity management, and issue resolution for RF links, secure comms, and payloads.
• Guide integration/test strategy and verification closure across labs and fielded environments.
• Build a culture of rigor, accountability, collaboration, and mission focus.

Skills

Systems engineering

Leadership

Model-based engineering

SysML modeling

Requirements management

Interface definition

Technical reviews

Customer communication

Staffing planning

Program coordination

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related engineering field

Graduate Degree

16+ years experience without degree

Tools

Cameo

MagicDraw

Rhapsody

Capella

DOORS

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

Systems Engineering Manager, T&RF

Job Code

42501

Job Location

San Diego, CA

Job Schedule

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

The Systems Engineering Manager reports to the T&RF Engineering Director and leads a multidisciplinary systems engineering team of 10 to 12 direct reports supporting the capture, development, integration, verification, production, and sustainment of T&RF products for space and defense missions. This role is accountable for technical planning, requirements definition, architecture development, interface management, system verification, and team execution across product lines that include secure communications payloads, satellite command and control, mission radio frequency data links, high power amplifiers, tactical satellite communications terminals, and embedded information assurance and communications security solutions. The manager is expected to incorporate model-based systems engineering into program execution, proposal efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Functions

• Lead, mentor, and develop a systems engineering team of 10 to 12 direct reports supporting multiple T&RF programs, independent research and development efforts, and capture and proposal activities.
• Own system requirements decomposition, concept of operations, architecture definition, interface control, verification planning, and technical baseline management from capture through production and sustainment.
• Drive adoption and practical use of model-based systems engineering and digital engineering methods, including SysML-based modeling, to improve requirements traceability, architecture communication, and verification readiness.
• Partner with Program Management, Chief Engineers, Product Line Leaders, Software, Field-Programmable Gate Array, Electrical, Mechanical, Test, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to achieve cost, schedule, and technical objectives.
• Support customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and proposal activities for Department of Defense, intelligence community, civil, and commercial space opportunities.
• Balance team staffing, priorities, budgets, and development plans across multiple efforts while maintaining execution against milestones and commitments.
• Ensure systems engineering artifacts comply with contract requirements, internal processes, and applicable military, aerospace, communications security, and space standards.
• Lead technical trade studies, risk and opportunity management, and issue resolution involving mission radio frequency links, secure communications, terminal architectures, payload performance, and command and control solutions.
• Guide integration and test strategy, verification closure, and problem resolution across development laboratories, qualification activities, and fielded environments.
• Build a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, and mission focus while representing systems engineering to senior leadership and customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field with a minimum of 12 years of prior related experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience.
• Active Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience leading systems engineering activities for radio frequency communications, satellite communications, space payloads, terminals, or other complex aerospace and defense systems.
• Working knowledge of the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements management, architecture development, interface definition, integration and test, verification and validation, and technical reviews.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate model-based systems engineering into product development, program execution, or technology roadmaps.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers and to lead cross-functional technical teams through ambiguity and change.
• Advanced degree in a related technical field or prior formal engineering management experience.
• Experience with tracking, telemetry, and command systems, crosslinks, mission radio frequency data links, software-defined radio frequency payloads, satellite command and control, high power amplifiers, tactical satellite communications terminals, integrated broadcast service receivers, embedded information assurance and communications security, specialized waveforms, or mission-specific terminals.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Rhapsody, Capella, or similar, and requirements tools such as DOORS, Jama, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with digital engineering, open systems approaches, interface standards, and model-driven verification planning.
• Experience supporting staffing plans, basis of estimates, proposal volumes, and strategic growth activities.
• Experience in highly regulated defense or aerospace environments with export-controlled or classified programs.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C. area, Denver, or NYC areas is $153,000 - $284,000. 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.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.