Lead, Systems Engineer (Mission Payload)

L3Harris Technologies•Fort Wayne, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

L3Harris is seeking a Lead, Systems Engineer to support development of a space-based Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor system. The role provides technical leadership across the system lifecycle, with emphasis on requirements development and management, interface definition and control, and system-level analysis. The engineer will work with cross-functional teams to ensure mission, payload, subsystem, and external interfaces are clearly defined, traceable, verifiable, and aligned with customer and program objectives. The position is onsite in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and follows a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. The successful candidate will lead systems engineering activities from concept through development, integration, test, and verification, and provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related STEM discipline and at least 9 years of relevant experience; or a graduate degree and at least 7 years of relevant experience; or at least 13 years of prior related experience in lieu of a degree.
Ability to obtain a DoD Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with space-based EO/IR systems, remote sensing payloads, or electro-optical mission systems.
Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, DOORS Next, Jama, or similar platforms.
Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) methodologies and tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, or similar.
Experience serving as an Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL) or in another technical leadership role.
Experience creating and managing ICDs, verification matrices, and technical baselines.
Understanding of spacecraft-to-payload interfaces and mission operations considerations.
Experience supporting major program technical reviews and customer interactions.
Active security clearance.
Experience in systems engineering for complex aerospace, defense, or space-based systems.
Experience developing and managing requirements at system and subsystem levels.
Experience defining and managing interfaces across hardware, software, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Experience performing or coordinating system analysis, trade studies, or mission/performance assessments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical content to internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional integrated product environment.

Responsibilities

Lead systems engineering efforts for a space-based EO/IR mission payload system across concept, development, integration, test, and verification phases.
Develop, decompose, allocate, and manage system and subsystem requirements based on program and customer needs.
Maintain requirements traceability from mission objectives through system architecture and subsystem specifications to verification methods.
Define, document, and manage internal and external interfaces, including Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and interface verification approaches.
Perform and coordinate system-level analyses of performance, functionality, risk, operability, and requirements compliance.
Support system architecture definition and technical baseline maturation for EO/IR payload solutions.
Coordinate with multidisciplinary payload, optics, focal plane, electronics, software, mechanical, integration and test, and mission operations engineering teams.
Lead or support technical reviews, including SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, and TRR.
Ensure systems engineering products are complete, consistent, and compliant with internal processes and customer expectations.
Identify technical risks, develop mitigation plans, and communicate status to engineering and program leadership.
Support verification and validation planning, including requirements verification cross-reference matrices and test, analysis, inspection, and demonstration methods.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship on systems engineering methods, tools, and best practices.