Scientist, Systems Engineering

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Education assistance

Parental leave

Company-paid holidays

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Carlsbad, California, seeks a Senior Systems Crypto Lead to drive secure architectures for NSA-certified cryptographic products. You will lead teams across requirements, design, verification, and certification, balancing security, performance, and reliability.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree with extensive related experience and an active Secret clearance, with travel up to 20% and a 9/80 work schedule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; 12+ years of experience, or 10+ with graduate degree; 16+ years if no degree.
• Active Secret Security Clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Lead secure system architecture design and validation for NSA-certified cryptographic products.
• Serve as primary responsible engineer for NSA certification requirements (IASRD, SERD).
• Guide secure network design, encryption, and cybersecurity controls across product architectures.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams from requirements through sustainment.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies to reduce program risk.
• Present technical data at reviews; communicate architecture decisions clearly.

Skills

Security leadership

Cryptography

Systems engineering

Network security

Risk management

Communication skills

Technical briefings

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate Degree

16+ years experience (no degree)

Tools

IASRD requirements

SERD

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 Description

Job Title: Senior Systems Crypto Lead

Job Code: 42021

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

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, Systems Engineering Review Description 2.0, 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, Systems Engineering Review Description 2.0, and the 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

• Experience in certification of products to National Security Agency standards, including Information Assurance Security Related Design (IASRD) Requirements, Systems Engineering Review Description 2.0, and the 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 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.
• Broad management and cross-functional leadership knowledge with mastery in electrical engineering or broad expertise across related technical areas.
• Demonstrated experience leading experienced professionals, supervisors, or managers in a technical environment.
• Strong background in electrical design, analysis, integration, test, evaluation, and production support for complex hardware systems.
• Ability to communicate and influence leadership regarding matters of substantial importance to the function or business area.
• Experience creating vision and translating strategy into clear priorities, staffing plans, and execution outcomes.
• Experience reviewing vendor capability and supporting development planning across internal and external partners.
• Familiarity with specialized algorithms or sensor‑processing applications for radar, communications, sonar, geophysical, or related systems.
• Strong root‑cause analysis, technical judgment, and decision‑making across multiple functions or businesses.
• Experience leading cross‑functional engineering teams and providing compelling technical briefings to senior leaders.

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.

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