Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer (Mission Payload)

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: Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer – Mission Payload Job Code: 46151 Job Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)

Job Description

L3Harris is seeking a Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer to support development of a space-based Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) mission payload sensor system. This role will perform systems engineering functions across the program lifecycle, contributing to technical planning, requirements development, interface coordination, system integration, verification planning, and engineering analysis. The selected candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment to help ensure the payload system is technically sound, executable, and aligned to mission and program objectives. In addition to core systems engineering responsibilities, this position will also support Cost Account Management (CAM) activities, including planning, tracking, and reporting on scope, schedule, and cost performance for assigned engineering work packages. This role is ideal for an engineer who combines sound systems engineering fundamentals with strong organizational, coordination, and program execution skills. This position is in Indiana: https://careers.l3harris.com/en/Fort-Wayne

Essential Functions

• Support systems engineering activities for a space-based EO/IR mission payload system through design, development, integration, test, and verification.
• Develop, decompose, allocate, and maintain system, subsystem, and component-level requirements.
• Support requirements traceability and verification planning across the payload development lifecycle.
• Coordinate definition and management of internal and external interfaces across payload subsystems and with spacecraft or mission elements.
• Contribute to development and maintenance of systems engineering artifacts such as specifications, verification matrices, interface documentation, technical plans, and trade study documentation.
• Perform and support system-level analyses, trade studies, and technical assessments to evaluate design approaches, performance, and compliance with mission requirements.
• Support system integration and test planning, discrepancy resolution, and technical issue closure.
• Participate in major technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and related customer or internal reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including optics, focal plane, electronics, software, mechanical, thermal, integration and test, quality, reliability, and mission operations.
• Identify and communicate technical risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies and support mitigation planning.
• Help maintain technical baseline consistency through disciplined configuration and change management practices.
• Job is onsite in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related STEM discipline and a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience; or a Graduate degree and a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
• Eligibility to obtain a DoD Secret security clearance.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience with space-based EO/IR systems, electro-optical payloads, remote sensing systems, or related mission hardware.
• Familiarity with requirements management tools such as DOORS, DOORS Next, Jama, or similar.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches and tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, or similar.
• Experience with interface management, ICD development, and verification traceability.
• Experience supporting integration and test, anomaly resolution, or system verification activities.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), work package management, or Cost Account Management (CAM) responsibilities.
• Prior experience serving as a technical lead, subsystem lead, deputy IPT lead, or CAM on a development program.
• Active security clearance.
• Experience supporting spacecraft, payload, ground, or mission operations for space systems programs.
• Experience in requirements development, decomposition, verification planning, and traceability.
• Experience analyzing telemetry, mission data, or operational performance data to support decision-making and issue resolution.
• Experience with anomaly investigation, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis in a complex technical environment.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present technical findings clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, fast-paced mission environment that may include launch and on-orbit support activities.

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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.

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