Scientist, Systems Engineer

L3Harris Technologies; Palm Bay (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, FL is seeking a Scientist, Systems Engineer to lead complex avionics development and guide cross‑disciplinary teams through the full product lifecycle. The role emphasizes architecture definition, requirements management, and verification planning in support of national security programs.

You will shape system solutions, manage risk, and collaborate with software, hardware, and software teams to meet program objectives while maintaining strong customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; 12+ years of experience, or 16+ years in lieu of degree.
• Graduate degree preferred for deeper systems engineering expertise.
• Experience leading avionics/electronic subsystem programs considered a plus.
• Proven ability to translate customer needs into system-level solutions.
• Experience with requirements traceability and verification planning.
• Knowledge of MBSE methodologies and architecture design principles.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for avionics and electronic subsystem development programs.
• Lead cross-functional teams through the full product lifecycle: concept, requirements, architecture, design, integration, verification, and sustainment.
• Translate customer needs into complete system solutions balancing performance, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Direct and manage system, hardware, and software requirements, interfaces, and traceability.
• Lead risk management, trade studies, and program planning to resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Oversee verification, validation, integration, and test activities across multiple disciplines.
• Provide technical leadership in customer engagements, design reviews, and proposal activities; support Basis of Estimate development.
• Mentor engineers to strengthen systems engineering discipline and technical depth.

Skills

Systems engineering

MBSE

Open systems architecture

Requirements management

Trade studies

Risk management

Technical leadership

Security clearance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate Degree

Tools

DOORS

EVMS

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: Scientist, Systems Engineer

Job Code: 43366

Job Location: Palm Bay, FL

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

This is an opportunity to lead complex avionics development efforts, solve challenging technical problems, and shape next-generation products that support U.S. and allied warfighters. You will join a highly capable, collaborative engineering organization with deep technical expertise and a strong track record of delivering innovative, mission-critical solutions for our customers. As our avionics business continues to grow, you will play a key role in advancing technologies that strengthen mission effectiveness and reinforce our reputation as a trusted provider of high-performance systems. In this role, you will serve as the technical leader for complex electronic hardware and integrated avionics systems, guiding cross-disciplinary engineering teams through the full product lifecycle from concept development and requirements definition through design, integration, verification, certification, and field support. You will provide systems engineering leadership across architecture, technical planning, risk management, requirements allocation, interface definition, and problem resolution, while ensuring solutions are aligned with customer needs, program objectives, and business constraints. This position offers the opportunity to make broad, strategic contributions to critical engineering programs and to influence both technical execution and team success.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as the technical authority and lead systems engineering execution for complex avionics and electronic subsystem development programs.
• Lead cross-functional engineering teams through the full product lifecycle, including concept development, requirements definition, architecture, design, integration, verification, validation, certification, production, and sustainment.
• Translate customer needs and operational concepts into complete system solutions that balance technical performance, cost, schedule, supportability, and program risk.
• Direct development, allocation, and management of system, hardware, and software requirements, including interface definition, traceability, and verification planning.
• Lead technical planning, trade studies, risk and opportunity management, and decision-making to resolve complex engineering and program challenges.
• Oversee system integration and test activities, including verification and validation planning, technical review support, discrepancy resolution, and compliance assessment.
• Provide technical leadership in customer engagements, design reviews, proposals, and program execution activities, including Basis of Estimate support, technical volumes, and clarification of assumptions, risks, and requirements.
• Ensure strong coordination across systems, software, hardware, mechanical, test, quality, manufacturing, and program management teams to achieve program objectives.
• Mentor and guide engineers across the organization, strengthen systems engineering discipline, and help build technical depth in critical skill areas.
• Travel is expected to be limited but might be required up to 10% to support customer meetings, program reviews, integration and test activities, and other business needs.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance.

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.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in systems engineering for complex avionics, electronics, or mission system development programs.
• Experience leading technical execution across the full product lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, integration, verification, validation, and sustainment.
• Experience translating customer needs into system-level solutions while balancing technical, cost, schedule, and risk considerations.
• Experience developing, deriving, and managing system, hardware, and software requirements.
• Experience with interface definition, requirements traceability, verification planning, and technical problem resolution.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and supporting technical reviews, customer interactions, and proposal activities.
• Experience with DOORS or an equivalent requirements management tool.
• Experience developing technical and/or cost proposals in a defense contracting environment.
• Experience using earned value management systems to support program planning and performance measurement.
• Experience developing, maintaining, and executing against integrated master schedules.
• Experience supporting programs with multi-level security, cybersecurity, or information assurance requirements.
• Expertise in Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Open Systems Architecture/design principles.

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.