Scientist, Systems Engineering

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 284,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Education assistance

Parental leave

Paid time off

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. in Carlsbad, California seeks a Senior Systems Crypto Lead (Scientist) to drive secure system architectures and embedded cryptographic solutions.

You will serve as the primary engineer for NSA certification, coordinating across engineering, production, and customer teams to manage risk and ensure compliant design. The role requires leading cryptographic system design, network security, and certification activities, with travel up to 20%.

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.
• Active Secret Security Clearance.
• Experience in NSA standards certification (IASRD / SERD) and encryption/product certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and validation of secure architectures and embedded cryptographic solutions.
• Certify products to NSA requirements (IASRD, SERD) and ensure security controls.
• Guide secure network design, encryption mechanisms, and cybersecurity controls.
• Mentor engineers and coordinate across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Present technical data at reviews and communicate project progress and architecture decisions.

Skills

Security engineering

Systems engineering

Network engineering

NSA certification

Risk analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree + 12+ years experience

Active Secret Security Clearance

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: Senior Systems Crypto Lead (Scientist)

Job Code: 46539

Job Location: Carlsbad, California

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

Job Description:

Lead development teams in defining requirements and conceptualizing secure communications system architectures for National Security Agency certified cryptographic products.Serve as the primary responsible engineer for certification to common National Security Agency requirements, including Information Assurance Security Related Design (IASRD) Requirements, and the Security Evaluation Requirements Document (SERD). Provide hands-on technical leadership across secure system design, embedded cryptographic solutions, and communications network architecture while balancing security, performance, and reliability. Partner across engineering, production, business development, and customer teams to communicate technical direction, manage risk, and support program execution.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the design, development, and validation of secure system architectures, communications networks, and embedded cryptographic solutions.
• Serve as the primary responsible engineer for certification of products to National Security Agency requirements, including Information Assurance Security Related Design(IASRD) Requirements and Security Evaluation Requirements Document (SERD)
• Guide implementation of secure network design, segmentation strategies, encryption mechanisms, and cybersecurity controls across product architectures.
• Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams through requirements definition, concept development, design execution, integration, verification, and sustainment.
• Identify technical, certification, and program risks throughout the lifecycle and develop mitigation strategies that achieve real-world risk reduction.
• Conduct system performance analysis, architectural trade studies, and technical reviews to verify behavior under operational and security constraints.
• Mentor and develop engineers across multiple teams, providing technical guidance, training, and support while building productive relationships with engineering teams, product owners, executives, customers, and external partners.
• Prepare and present technical data at internal and customer reviews, clearly communicating technical details, project progress, and architecture decisions.
• Coordinate across systems, hardware, software, firmware, and production teams to ensure integrated and certifiable secure communications solutions.
• Support travel up to 20 percent as needed for stakeholder engagement, reviews, integration activities, and on-site program support.

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.
• Active Secret Security Clearance.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in security engineering, systems engineering, network engineering, or related technical roles.
• Experience in certification of products to National Security Agency standards, including Information Assurance Security Related Design (IASRD) Requirements and Security Evaluation Requirements Document (SERD).
• Experience in at least one of the following areas related to encrypted communications products: systems engineering, electronic hardware design, firmware design, or software design.
• Knowledge of secure system design, communications networks, cybersecurity controls, threat modeling, cryptographic algorithms, and cryptographic protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze risk and apply security controls to achieve practical risk reduction while balancing security, performance, and reliability.
• Familiarity with working across organizational boundaries including engineering, production, and business development.
• Familiarity with modern network protocols, routing, wireless communications, encryption, and network security architecture.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at multiple levels.

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.

• health and disability insurance
• 401(k) match
• flexible spending accounts
• EAP
• education assistance
• parental leave
• paid time off
• company-paid holidays

#LI-CS3

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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