Lead, Systems Engineer (Mission Payload)

L3Harris•Fort Wayne, IN

8h•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 coordinate across teams to ensure mission, payload, subsystem, and external interfaces are defined, traceable, verifiable, and aligned with customer and program objectives. The position leads systems engineering efforts through concept, development, integration, test, and verification. It supports system architecture and technical baseline maturation for EO/IR payload solutions, coordinates multidisciplinary engineering work, and contributes to technical reviews and verification and validation planning. The role also includes identifying and mitigating technical risks, communicating status to engineering and program leadership, and mentoring other engineers in systems engineering methods, tools, and practices. The job is onsite in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and follows a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.

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.
In lieu of a degree, at least 13 years of prior related experience.
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 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 architecture, subsystem specifications, and 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 payload, optics, focal plane, electronics, software, mechanical, integration and test, and mission operations engineering teams.
Lead or support lifecycle 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 approaches.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers on systems engineering methods, tools, and best practices.