Scientist, Ground Systems Architect (Palm Bay, FL)

L3Harris Technologies•Palm Bay, FL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a System Architect for Ground Systems, providing technical leadership and advanced systems engineering expertise across responsive space programs within L3Harris Technologies’ Space and Mission Systems Segment, supporting the Surveillance Systems Division. The role architects complex, mission-critical ground system solutions that integrate with space-based assets and associated subsystems to meet customer and mission needs. As a senior individual contributor and technical authority, the position leads system architecture definition, key design decisions, and program technical direction throughout the system lifecycle, from concept development and capture through requirements analysis, architecture development, integration, verification, deployment, and operations. At the Scientist level, the role applies deep domain knowledge and systems thinking to resolve complex technical challenges, establish architectural vision, and ensure ground system designs are robust, scalable, maintainable, secure, and operationally effective. It leads cross-functional systems engineering efforts involving requirements management, networking and infrastructure, Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), interface definition and control, functional allocation, performance analysis, technical trade studies, integration strategy, verification and validation planning, and test architecture. The role participates in major technical and program reviews and leads resolution of significant technical issues and program risks through structured engineering processes. The position requires substantial independence, technical mentorship, stakeholder influence, and leadership of collaborative teams developing ground system architectures across one or more programs. The successful candidate shapes system-level solutions, contributes to strategic growth initiatives, and supports national security and mission operations objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least 12 years of relevant experience; or a graduate degree and at least 10 years of related experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 16 years of related experience.
Active TS/SCI clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with space ground systems and space vehicle operation.
Experience with space ground design, integration, and test.

Responsibilities

Lead the architecture, design, and technical execution of space ground systems supporting mission operations, payload operations, command and control, communications, data processing, and system integration.
Define and manage end-to-end ground system architectures aligned with mission objectives, customer requirements, operational concepts, and interface needs across space, ground, and user segments.
Translate customer, mission, and operational needs into system architecture solutions, performance requirements, and technical baselines.
Lead development, decomposition, allocation, and verification of system and subsystem requirements using tools such as DOORS and Jama.
Evaluate and integrate technical parameters across hardware, software, networking, communications, cybersecurity, and operational interfaces.
Conduct architecture trades, technical assessments, and design analyses to support selection of ground system concepts, technologies, and implementation approaches.
Provide technical leadership to cross-functional engineering teams through design, integration, test, verification, deployment, and operational transition.
Support integration and troubleshooting of ground system elements with software, hardware, test, operations, and program teams.
Work with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, and other supporting organizations to resolve defects, manage technical issues, and drive root-cause solutions.
Generate, review, and maintain architecture descriptions, interface control documents, test procedures, engineering specifications, reports, analyses, and Engineering Change Orders.
Apply MBSE methodologies and tools, including CAMEO and MagicDraw, to support architecture development, system modeling, interface definition, and requirements traceability.
Identify, evaluate, and mitigate technical, integration, cost, and schedule risks associated with ground system development and deployment.
Support fixed-price government programs by managing technical scope and architecture decisions consistent with cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
Contribute to business development, capture, and proposal activities through technical concepts, solution architectures, and basis-of-estimate inputs.
Lead and mentor technical teams in developing and implementing complex space and ground architectures, promoting disciplined systems engineering and cross-functional collaboration.
Participate in major technical and program reviews, including pursuit efforts, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PSR, and transition to operations; lead resolution of significant technical issues and program risks through processes such as RCCAs, FRBs, MRBs, and action item closure.