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Chief Engineer

Huntsville, Alabama, Sacramento, California
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

L3Harris' Missle Solutions Segment seeks a Chief Engineer with expertise in development of missile systems and/or missile propulsion systems. The person in this position will be deployed as a Chief Engineer responsible for the technical strategy and technical execution of ongoing customer funded efforts. This includes all phases of development from pre-award concept development, proposal development, through design, testing and verification, and on to production, deployment and operational acceptance. The Chief Engineer will be responsible for directing the execution activities of all engineering disciplines for existing programs and new pursuits.

Essential Functions: 

  • Leadership of vehicle and propulsion systems design, with a strong focus on continuous improvement related to meeting design milestones on time, and within budget. 
  • Strong leadership and agility to be decisive and communicate strategic vision in development environments with often incomplete technical requirements, aggressive schedule demands, and high quality standards.
  • Coordination of engineering efforts with supply chain and operations for development efforts.
  • Co-ownership of metrics related to MRB and Nonconformance rates and closure times for Production Programs, as well as production delivery metrics.
  • Identify IR&D efforts and drive alignment with technical roadmaps to create technology differentiators.
  • Leadership of pursuits with emphasis on technical baseline rigor, cost justification, executability, and risk management.
  • Leads/contributes to program risk/opportunity management and drives mitigation / realization actions.
  • Responsible for technical issue resolution, ensures root cause is identified and corrective actions are executed to plan.
  • Travel: 25%.
  • Ability to obtain a US Secret Security Clearance.

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior propulsion and/or Chief Engineering experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior propulsion and/or Chief Engineering experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior propulsion and/or Chief Engineering experience.
  • 5+ years proficiency in leading technical issue resolution via root cause investigation and identification of effective corrective action(s).

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Expertise in communicating technical data to senior management and customers of varying technical complexity.
  • 7+ years of Propulsion and Vehicle Systems domain knowledge is desired.
  • Strong multi-disciplinary technical breadth in Missiles and Propulsion.
  • Ability to quickly understand missions, customer sets, drive strategy.
  • Successfully executing multi-site engineering efforts.
  • Experience with:
    • Requirements elicitation, analysis and functional allocation, conducting systems requirements reviews, developing concepts of operation and interface standards, and performing technical/non-technical assessment and management.
    • Leading large, complex, and multidisciplinary teams on engineering development programs.
    • Technology innovation and owning technology roadmaps, prototyping efforts, and reference architectures.
    • Leading efforts to optimize engineering processes for efficiency and compliance.
    • Scaling engineering talent, growing technical teams, and staffing programs effectively to meet customer/program needs.
    • Design for manufacturability and cost.

#LI-HW1

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.

About L3 Harris

L3 Harris

L3 Harris is one of the largest defense and aerospace companies in the United States, delivering advanced technologies that support missions across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The company develops communications systems, space payloads, intelligence platforms, electronic warfare capabilities, missile defense technologies, and mission-critical sensors used by the U.S. military, intelligence community, and allied nations around the world.

For job seekers, L3Harris offers opportunities across engineering, software development, cybersecurity, space systems, manufacturing, intelligence, program management, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to veterans, cleared professionals, and engineers who want to work on advanced technologies that directly support national security. With programs spanning tactical communications, ISR platforms, satellite systems, and defense electronics, employees have the opportunity to contribute to some of the military’s most important capabilities.

Unlike companies focused on a single mission area, L3Harris operates across a diverse portfolio of defense technologies, providing employees exposure to a broad range of programs and technical disciplines. Teams work on everything from secure communications and autonomous systems to space-based sensors and electronic warfare platforms, creating opportunities for both specialization and long-term career growth within the organization.

As governments continue investing in modernization, space capabilities, resilient communications, and advanced sensing technologies, L3Harris remains one of the most important employers in the defense industry. For professionals seeking a mission-driven career with strong growth opportunities, technical challenges, and direct impact on global security, L3Harris continues to stand out as a leading destination in aerospace and defense.

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