Principal, Contracts

Harris Geospatial Solutions; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 115,500 - 247,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in the United States seeks a Principal, Contracts to lead international contracting and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) efforts. You will oversee a portfolio of high-value pursuits across multiple regions, guiding strategy, risk, and compliance from capture through contract execution.

You will manage cross-functional teams, draft and negotiate agreements, and coordinate with Legal and Trade Compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum 10–12 years of experience in negotiating, drafting, and administering international contracts.
• Must be able to obtain a passport and travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategy, guidance, and risk mitigation across the full contract lifecycle for DCS and international contracts.
• Lead cross-functional proposal and negotiation teams for major contracts.
• Draft, review, and approve a wide variety of agreements and disclosures.
• Coordinate with Legal, Trade Compliance, and export/import teams to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Travel internationally ~30% to support negotiations and in-country pursuits.

Skills

International contracts

Negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

DCS familiarity

ITAR/EAR knowledge

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate 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: Principal, Contracts

Job Code: 41633

Location: Nashville, TN or Melbourne, FL or Rochester, NY or Clifton, NJ or Greenville, TX or Salt Lake City, UT or Herndon, VA or Carlsbad, CA or San Diego, CA or Londonderry, NH or Tulsa, OK

Schedule: 9/80

L3Harris is seeking a Principal, Contracts to serve as a senior contracts leader and subject matter expert in commercial and international Contracting, with a strong emphasis on International Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). This role is responsible for managing a complex portfolio of high-value pursuits, contracts, and international business activities across multiple customers and geographic regions.

The Principal, Contracts will provide strategic business, contractual, and risk mitigation guidance across the full contract lifecycle for DCS, international commercial contracts. This individual will lead cross-functional teams in the pursuit, negotiation, award, and administration of major contracts while ensuring compliance with applicable acquisition, export control, and international commercial regulations.

This role requires a strong leader who can influence across functions, represent the company in discussions with senior customer representatives and internal executives, and support in-country pursuits through frequent, and at times short-notice, international travel.

Job Description:

• Serve as a subject matter expert in all aspects of international contracting, primarily Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).
• Manage a large volume of complex, high-dollar pursuits and contracts spanning multiple customers and international regions.
• Provide business, contractual, and risk mitigation leadership for DCS and international contracts.
• Lead cross-functional proposal and negotiation teams in the pursuit of major contracts.
• Develop and support business pursuit strategies, including bid/no-bid recommendations, deal structuring, and risk assessments.
• Review and approve the contractual, financial, and business aspects of proposals, contracts, agreements, and operational initiatives.
• Analyze proposed business terms, pricing positions, costs, risks, and opportunities during cost and price reviews.
• Support proposal development activities, including estimating, pricing, and required contract documentation.
• Draft, negotiate, review, and approve a wide variety of agreements, including Teaming Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Licensing Agreements, and other business and legal documents.
• Partner with Legal to provide contracts guidance related to intellectual property, disputes, claims, protests, and other legal or regulatory matters.
• Coordinate with Trade Compliance and Export/Import teams to ensure adherence to ITAR, EAR, and other applicable regulations.
• Provide commercial and contractual guidance to international subsidiaries and business partners in support of global pursuits.
• Partner with technical, program, finance, export control, engineering, and sales teams from early capture and product development stages through contract execution and administration.
• Support and help execute strategies that improve programmatic and financial outcomes during contract administration.
• Represent the company in exchanges with senior customer leaders and regularly brief business leadership on contractual strategy, risk, and status.
• Travel internationally an estimated 30% to support customer engagement, negotiations, and in-country pursuits, including time-sensitive travel in support of active negotiations and customer commitments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in negotiating, drafting, and administering complex international contracts.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a passport and satisfy international travel requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in one or more languages in addition to English, with Arabic strongly preferred.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other advanced degree.
• Experience supporting international subsidiaries or global business operations.
• Familiarity with U.S. Government contracting and Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
• Comfort in, familiarity with, and understanding of a multitude of different worldwide cultures and customs.
• Demonstrated experience in Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) and international contracting, including a proven record of negotiating and closing high-value international agreements.
• Familiarity with international commercial principles, including INCOTERMS.
• Working knowledge of export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR.
• Familiarity with common Trade Finance and banking concepts including bonds, guarantees, letters of credit, foreign exchange (FX), and similar.
• Demonstrated ability to travel to and interact with stakeholders and customers in diverse geographic regions and cultures, including on short notice when business needs require.
• Proven success working directly with senior-level customer stakeholders and internal executives.
• Excellent written, verbal, negotiation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take ownership of outcomes, and lead within a cross-functional team environment, with a record of sustained follow-through on long-duration pursuits.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including deal structuring, pricing strategy, and risk-based decision-making in support of major international pursuits.

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 $133k - $247k. The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, Cleveland Ohio, Vermont and Virginia is $115,500 - $245,500. This is not a guarantee of compensationor 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.