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Flight Software

Scientist, Chief Software Engineering - Embedded Flight Software : Sign-on bonus ($50K max)

L3Harris logoL3Harris$161,500–$300,500/yrWilmington, MAFull timePosted 1d agoStill open, checked every night

How this pay compares

This posting states $162k–$301k a year. Open software engineer jobs in Massachusetts post a median of $194k a year, the middle half $152k–$210k, across 6 jobs that state their pay, so this one is above the middle half of what they post.

Software engineers in Massachusetts: pay by town and employer

About the job

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Scientist, Software Engineering – Chief Software Engineer (CSWE)

Job Code: 47208

Job Location: Wilmington MA

Job Schedule: 9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants

Sign-On Bonus: A sign-on bonus of up to $50K may be included as part of an offer package for this level

Job Description

L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems is seeking a Chief Software Engineer (CSWE) for our Wilmington, MA location to design, develop and lead Embedded Flight Software for space-based imaging payloads. The CSWE will lead software architecture, design, coding, integration, and testing of Embedded Flight Software, developing and testing algorithms, controls, and subsystems for complex aerospace applications. The role requires involvement in the complete software lifecycle, from development to testing to operation during missions.

Essential Functions

  • Guide activities across requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment.
  • Lead a software team to meet customer requirements within allocated cost, scope, and schedule.
  • Recognized as an internal expert and thought leader in embedded software development with broad experience across multiple job areas.
  • Works under consultative direction against annual goals to manage large, complex project initiatives of strategic importance to the organization.
  • Communicates within and outside of the organization to influence leadership to accept new practices, approaches, and concepts.
  • Interface with internal and external stakeholders for common understanding and coherent approaches.
  • Recommends tactics and strategies that directly impact the achievement of overall business or functional results.
  • Participate in formal technical reviews such as requirements reviews, design reviews, and test readiness reviews.
  • Plan and organize software development, managing the project through engineering processes and gates.
  • Work closely with product, systems, hardware, cybersecurity, Quality Assurance, and program management teams.
  • Assess engineering issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and customer-satisfaction goals.
  • Communicate status, issues, milestones, and successes to leadership.
  • Contribute to requirements analysis, design, coding, unit and integration testing, and requirements verification.
  • Serve as the final escalation point for major software engineering challenges
  • Ability to obtain a U.S. Top Secret SCI clearance

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 12 years prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 10 years prior relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior relevant engineering experience.
  • 1+ years experience as a software lead
  • 4+ years experience in embedded software development, system design, debugging, and integration on flight-like hardware.
  • 5+ years experience working with RTOS (e.g., VxWorks, QNX, Embedded Linux) and simulators like TSIM, VxSIM, SIMIC, MATLAB Simulink.
  • 7+ years experience in C/C++, and Python scripting languages.
  • Professional experience working in aerospace/space systems field.

Preferred Additional Skills

  • Active U.S. Top Secret SCI clearance
  • Expertise in developing and leading embedded software for space-based systems
  • Knowledge in space domain and applications.
  • Fundamental knowledge of computer architecture and networks.
  • Experience with modern software tools (Jira, Bitbucket, Git, Jenkins, Confluence).
  • Experience with cost estimation and Basis of Estimate (BOE) authoring.
  • Demonstrated technical leadership with Earned Value Management (EVM) financial reporting.
  • Familiarity with Cyber compliance tools (e.g., Fortify Workbench, SonarQube).
  • Experience with DevOps practices, Jenkins, and continuous integration tools.
  • Familiarity with Versal, MicroBlaze, bare metal development, and kernel/device drivers.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in the Greater Boston Area is $161,500 - $300,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

#LI-RK1

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish . For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish .

From L3Harris's job posting, checked 12 Nov 2026. Requirements, and whether the role is still open, are settled on the employer's own page.

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About L3Harris

Satellites, space sensors and rocket engines, inside a defense and aerospace prime.

Pay on its listings: 40.4% of its open jobs state their pay

How it pays: Paid as an employee on L3Harris's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).

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