Principal, Contracts

L3Harris•Waco, TX

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal, Contracts drives successful business outcomes across new and ongoing programs and supports financial objectives including orders, revenue recognition, operating income, and free cash flow. The role provides expert guidance on contractual strategy, risk mitigation, and compliance, protecting company interests through knowledge of contract terms, regulations, and industry trends. It applies expertise in FAR, international contracting, and government procurement to support alignment with legal and regulatory requirements. The position manages the full contract lifecycle and serves as the primary contractual interface with customers. It oversees commercial contract elements, negotiations, compliance, documentation, and the development of policies and processes. The role also manages and develops the contracts team through coaching, training, and manpower planning, and advises management on contractual rights, obligations, legal issues, resources, and risk management. The position is based in Waco, Texas, and follows a 9/80 schedule: employees work 9 days out of every 14, totaling 80 hours, with every other Friday off.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of extensive Government and Commercial Contracting experience, including negotiation and administration of complex, high-value agreements; or a graduate degree and 10 years of such experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 16 years of such experience.
Expert knowledge of contractual terms and conditions.
Excellent interpretation, written, and oral communication skills.
Experience in contract management.
Proven ability to lead, engage, and inspire high-performing operations teams.
Demonstrated success leading organizational growth, establishing strategies, and driving scalable process improvements.
Expertise in developing and implementing team performance measures and metrics.
Superior strategic, organizational, and analytical skills, abstract reasoning, and exceptional attention to detail.
Experience creating and delivering executive-level reports and briefings.
Detail-oriented and results-driven, with a hands-on approach to issue resolution.
Strong working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).
Proficiency in contract lifecycle management, from proposal development through close-out.
Skill in assessing and mitigating risks related to contractual obligations and terms.
Ability to draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, teaming agreements, and licensing agreements.
Experience working with export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting defense, aerospace, or high-tech industries.
General knowledge of product definition and manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of accounting, financial reporting, and ERP functionality.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Experience working with commercial contracts globally.

Responsibilities

Influence business and financial outcomes by providing contractual guidance and risk mitigation strategies.
Ensure contracts meet financial and regulatory compliance requirements.
Establish and enforce policies and procedures so the division operates within corporate guidelines and follows best practices.
Drive continuous improvement in department processes to enhance contract-management efficiency and effectiveness.
Manage the full contract lifecycle, from solicitation development and proposal submissions through change control and contract execution.
Maintain the primary contractual interface with customers, ensuring clear communication and aligned expectations.
Manage and execute commercial contract elements, including shipping requirements, invoicing, and export licensing.
Support negotiations with customers, subcontractors, and external organizations.
Provide input on the commercial elements of RFPs during the bid and proposal stage.
Ensure contracts align with revenue recognition policies and financial risk requirements.
Apply milestone criteria for specific contracts and programs.
Manage and develop the contracts team through coaching, training, and manpower planning.
Oversee contract execution and ensure appropriate documentation, including Letters of Credit, shipping requirements, and export licensing.
Advise management on contractual rights, obligations, and legal issues, including effective resource use and risk management.
Support negotiations with key subcontractors and manage agreements with external organizations, ensuring proper oversight of enterprise assets.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.