Principal, Contracts

L3Harris Technologies • Bellmead, TX

7d • 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 the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), international contracting, and government procurement to ensure 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, financial risk, documentation, and contract team development. The role also advises management on contractual rights, obligations, legal issues, resource use, and risk management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of extensive Government and Commercial Contracting experience, including negotiation and administration of complex, high-value agreements; or graduate degree and 10 years of such experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 16 years of such experience.
• 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 with export control regulations, including ITAR and EAR.
• Excellent interpretation and written and oral communication skills.
• Strong strategic, organizational, analytical, and abstract reasoning skills, with exceptional attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience supporting defense, aerospace, or high-tech industries.
• Expert knowledge of contractual terms and conditions.
• 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 in contract management and working with commercial contracts globally.
• 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.
• Experience creating and delivering executive-level reports and briefings.
• A detail-oriented, results-driven, hands-on approach to issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Influence business and financial outcomes by providing contractual guidance and risk mitigation strategies, ensuring contracts meet financial and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and enforce policies and procedures so the division follows corporate guidelines and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement in department processes to enhance contract-management efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage the contract lifecycle, from solicitation development and proposal submissions through change control and contract execution.
• Serve as the primary contractual interface with customers, maintaining 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, and provide commercial input on RFPs during bid and proposal stages.
• Ensure contracts align with revenue recognition policies and financial risk requirements, applying milestone criteria to applicable contracts and programs.
• Manage and develop the contracts team through coaching, training, and manpower planning.
• Oversee contract execution and documentation, including Letters of Credit, shipping requirements, and export licensing.
• Advise management on contractual rights, obligations, legal issues, resource use, and risk management.
• Support negotiations with key subcontractors and manage agreements with external organizations, ensuring appropriate oversight of enterprise assets.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal