Sr. Associate, Mechanical Engineer

Harris Geospatial Solutions; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 59,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and disability insurance

401(k) match

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance program

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, NY is seeking a Sr. Associate, Mechanical Engineer to design, analyze, model, and test high‑performance control systems for electro‑mechanical and optical‑mechanical platforms.

Focus areas include LOS/attitude control, jitter reduction, and multidisciplinary system integration. Responsibilities cover modeling, validation, and implementation of control solutions, with emphasis on stability, robustness, and real‑time performance.

Qualifications

• Eligible applicants must be pursuing a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or have completed a relevant Master's within the last 12 months.
• Strong background in control theory, dynamics, and modeling of electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical systems.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and programming in C/C++ is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Model and simulate dynamic systems for electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical hardware.
• Develop and implement control algorithms including LOS and attitude control.
• Perform modal, vibration, and structural analysis to support design validation.
• Assess optical performance related to pointing, jitter, and image stability.
• Collaborate across hardware, electronics, and software teams.

Skills

Control theory

Kalman filtering

Line-of-sight control

Structural dynamics

Multidisciplinary systems

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

C/C++

FE modeling tools

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: Sr. Associate, Mechanical Engineer

Job Code: 43314

Job Location: Rochester, NY

Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off!)

Job Description:Dynamics Analyst (GN&C/ACS/Controls/LOS/Jitter)

L3Harris is seeking a highly skilled Dynamics Analyst to perform design, analysis, modeling, and testing of high-performance controls for electro-mechanical and optical-mechanical systems with focus on Attitude Control Systems, Controls, LOS/Jitter, and/or dynamic testing. The analyst will use their experience to model, analyze and simulate dynamic systems, utilizing methodologies for a variety of dynamic systems, but with a primary focus on system-level interdisciplinary electro-mechanical optical systems. This includes, but is not limited to, actuated optical systems, high bandwidth steering mirror control, multidisciplinary system modeling and characterization, image stabilization, and closed loop state estimation.

Job responsibilities:

• Control Theory: Applying classical and modern control theory concepts such as stability, feedback control, and robustness. Utilizing analysis tools like Bode, Nyquist, Nichols, pole-zero plots, root-locus, and frequency-response analysis.
• Control Systems: Conducting analysis, synthesis, development, and implementation of feedback control systems. This includes developing models as state-variable equations, transfer functions, and/or block diagrams to determine dynamic systems characteristics, and analyzing both time and frequency responses.
• Structural Dynamics and Vibration Analysis: Performing structural dynamics and vibration analysis, including random vibration and acoustic analysis, design, measurement, and computation of multi-degree-of-freedom systems.
• Computational Methods: Employing finite-element-based computational methods, dynamic testing methods, and modal analysis (both analytical and experimental).
• Optical Performance Analysis: Evaluating system-level optical performance related to pointing, smear, and jitter.
• Digital Signal Processing: Applying fundamental concepts and techniques of digital signal processing theory and its applications, including discrete-time signals, systems, and modern digital processing algorithms for both time-domain and frequency-domain methods.

Essential Functions:

• Model control systems as part of larger system simulations for electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical hardware
• Line-of-sight (LOS) control, attitude control, servo control, Kalman filtering
• Algorithm development, implementation, flight software development, mission simulation, verification and validation
• Multidisciplinary (hardware, electronics, and software) integrated system development and operation
• Dynamic stabilization\isolation, passive vibration control, active vibration control
• Model characterization and performance predictions\evaluations
• Modal\Random Vibration\Acoustic\Shock model predictions, testing and correlation
• Definition and documentation of system specifications

Qualifications:

• To be eligible, applicants must be pursuing a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a relevant degree or have completed their Master's degree within the last 12 months, regardless of age.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• TS/SCI Clearance
• Proficient in FE modeling and analysis tools, MATLAB, Simulink, C/C++
• Knowledge of astrodynamics principles relevant to remote sensing. Familiarity with space mission analysis and design impacts on remote sensing.
• Familiarity with key elements of modeling the end-to-end imaging chain of remote sensing systems, with particular focus on the LOS impacts on image quality.
• Preferred experience with real-time control implementation, and embedded C/C++ programming.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, and Vermont is $59,000.00 - $110,000. 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.