Manager, System Engineering

L3Harris Technologies•Carlsbad, CA

10d•$127,500 - $236,500•Onsite

About The Position

L3Harris Technologies is seeking a Product Strategy & Lifecycle Engineering Manager to establish and lead a new group supporting its Tactical Data Link (TDL) product portfolio. The group will focus on product-line direction, long-term planning, and customer-facing sustainment engineering for current needs and future opportunities. This is a working managerial position: approximately 75% of the time is devoted to hands-on technical work and 25% to leadership, direction, and oversight of approximately 8–15 engineers and technical personnel. The manager and team are accountable for technical product roadmaps, lifecycle planning, sustainment engineering, and resolution of customer-facing technical challenges across the TDL portfolio. The role ensures activities are staffed, resourced, and prioritized to support program commitments, customer needs, and long-term product objectives. The position calls for strong hands-on systems engineering and leadership skills, experience supporting products throughout their lifecycle, and the ability to translate customer needs into actionable technical priorities. It involves close collaboration with Design & Development Engineering, Project Engineers, Program Managers, Business Development, Production, and Depot Operations. The position is located in Carlsbad, California, and follows a 9/80 schedule. Travel is approximately 5–10% of the time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 9 years of prior systems engineering experience; or a graduate degree and 7 years of prior systems engineering experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 13 years of prior related systems engineering experience.
Active U.S. Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Comprehensive systems engineering experience with high-reliability electronic communications products, including Tactical Data Link systems, product integration, and lifecycle sustainment.
Experience developing technical product roadmaps, translating customer requirements into systems solutions, and prioritizing product improvements within technical, schedule, and cost constraints.
Demonstrated management and leadership experience directing experienced technical professionals, establishing operational plans, managing staffing and resources, and developing talent.
Experience supporting customer-facing sustainment engineering, including technical issue resolution, root-cause analysis, and coordination with development engineering, production, and depot operations.
Extensive defense-industry experience supporting government and/or DoD customers, particularly with Tactical Data Link systems and military communications products.
Experience developing product-line strategies, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle plans that balance current customer commitments with future capability and business opportunities.
Experience leading engineers and technical personnel while assessing current and future workloads to ensure appropriate staffing, skills, and equipment are available.
Hands-on experience with communications electronics integration, testing, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting, including familiarity with standard electronic test and measurement equipment.
Experience supporting production, depot, and field sustainment activities, including obsolescence management, configuration management, and product improvements.
Ability to translate customer feedback and operational challenges into actionable engineering priorities through collaboration with Engineering, Program Management, Business Development, and Operations.
Strong ownership, accountability, and follow-through, with a proactive, collaborative, customer-focused approach and urgency in resolving technical issues.

Responsibilities

Perform hands-on technical work approximately 75% of the time and provide management, leadership, and oversight approximately 25% of the time for a team of approximately 8–15 engineers and technical personnel.
Lead product-line technical direction and develop and maintain long-term product roadmaps aligned with customer needs, sustainment requirements, technology evolution, and future business opportunities.
Apply systems engineering expertise and knowledge of electronic communications and Tactical Data Link technologies to product planning, technical assessments, and lifecycle support.
Oversee customer-facing sustainment engineering, including technical inquiries, troubleshooting, platform integration support, and resolution of field, production, and depot issues.
Translate customer feedback, operational needs, and product performance trends into prioritized technical requirements, product improvements, and lifecycle initiatives.
Collaborate with Engineering Leadership, Program Management, and Business Development to align product priorities, develop technical proposals and estimates, and establish achievable budgets and schedules.
Ensure the group is appropriately staffed and resourced to meet program milestones, customer commitments, and long-term product objectives.
Manage technical, schedule, and cost performance for assigned product strategy and lifecycle engineering efforts, including proposal reviews, cost estimates, and risk mitigation.
Attract, hire, retain, and develop talent while fostering innovation, execution, transparency, accountability, and collaboration.
Provide mentorship, technical guidance, performance feedback, and professional growth opportunities for team members.
Work with Design & Development Engineering, Production, and Depot Operations on product transitions, sustainment improvements, obsolescence management, and configuration changes using established company processes.
Oversee maintenance of technical documentation, including interface control documents, operating and maintenance documentation, and lifecycle support information.
Communicate technical priorities, product plans, risks, and recommendations to customers, engineering teams, program leadership, and other stakeholders.