Lead, Systems Engineer - Product Architecture

L3Harris•Nashville, TN

About The Position

ForceX is seeking a systems engineer to deliver mission-focused technical solutions from concept through deployment and sustainment. The role partners across disciplines to translate requirements into executable designs that meet performance, cost, and schedule objectives. Focused on product and mission-system engineering, the position covers requirements, architecture, integration, verification, and lifecycle technical execution. It is a subject matter expert role requiring comprehensive job-area knowledge and deep project management capability. The Lead supports integrated product teams in engineering capability development from concept of operations (ConOps) definition through verification and validation (V&V). The role leads technical strategy for product development, defines system architecture, and guides technology roadmap planning for the VAMPIRE Counter-UAS product line. It helps establish system direction, assess architectural options, and improve technical decision-making across the engineering team. The engineer operates at the system level, guides disciplined reviews, and connects long-range technical planning to execution needs. The position is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and follows a 9/80 schedule: employees work nine out of every 14 days, totaling 80 hours, with every other Friday off. The role is contingent upon program award, requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance, may involve work in a classified or controlled environment, and requires travel up to 25% for integration, test, customer engagement, and program execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 9 years of relevant experience; or a graduate degree and at least 7 years of related experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 13 years of related experience.
At least 9 years of experience with systems engineering methods across full-lifecycle activities.
At least 9 years of experience with requirements management, risk management, and system integration and verification practices.
Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance.
Ability to travel up to 25% for integration, test, customer engagement, and program execution.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in a STEM discipline, preferably engineering; physics, mathematics, and computer science are also acceptable.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional engineering teams.
Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE).
Experience with multi-domain mission systems and secure architectures.
Experience supporting government or defense technical reviews.
Experience balancing technical, schedule, and cost constraints in system-level decisions.
Ability to collaborate across software, hardware, mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and program teams.
Experience managing large, complex project initiatives of substantial importance with minimal oversight.
Ability to communicate across organizational boundaries to explain and influence changes to technical practices and approaches.
Experience defining engineering tool chains and processes for technical development of multi-baseline product lines.
Experience supporting bid and proposal efforts as a technical lead.
Experience defining product architectures for reusable baseline development.
Experience supporting technical authority functions in complex engineering organizations.
Experience creating roadmap recommendations tied to design maturity and integration risk.
Familiarity with system-level trade studies and review board preparation.
Experience balancing long-range architecture goals with near-term program execution needs.

Responsibilities

Lead product internal R&D (IRAD) development and program execution teams across the Systems Engineering, Integration & Test (SEIT) organization.
Develop and refine system architecture approaches across product and program teams.
Provide technical authority support for system-level engineering decisions.
Plan, support, and document formal product architecture and design reviews.
Assess technical options and help shape the technology roadmap.
Coordinate architecture decisions across systems, mechanical, electrical, and other engineering stakeholders.
Identify system-level risks, assumptions, and decision points for leadership.
Produce engineering artifacts that capture architectural rationale and review outcomes.
Maintain controlled analytical artifacts and supporting technical documentation.
Execute engineering work products from requirements through verification and technical documentation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate hardware, software, and operational constraints into practical solutions.
Conduct technical analysis, identify risks, and perform trade studies to support design decisions.
Present technical status, issues, and recommendations in formal and informal reviews.
Contribute to proposal, planning, and execution activities aligned to program milestones.
Maintain compliance with customer, regulatory, and security requirements in product architecture.
Perform technical planning, requirements decomposition, interface definition, and verification strategy for mission systems.
Execute system integration, validation, and technical baselines across concept, design, fabrication, test, installation, operation, maintenance, and disposal.
Lead or support design reviews, peer reviews, and technical interchanges.
Produce and maintain systems engineering artifacts, including requirements traceability, risk registers, and verification evidence.