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Lead, Chief Systems Engineer

Colorado Springs, Colorado
Full Time On-site

Summary

Job Description

L3Harris Technologies is seeking a Radar Chief Systems Engineer to support radar‑related programs at our Colorado Springs location. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to critical mission‑focused systems within a rapidly growing defense environment. The position plays a key role in developing and sustaining advanced solutions for high‑priority assets and requires strong collaboration within a team of experienced professionals.

Essential Functions: 

  • Ensure systems‑engineering processes—whether traditional waterfall or agile/scrum—are properly followed and executed across the program.
  • Maintain the accuracy, integrity, and quality of the program’s technical baseline.
  • Review system requirements, preliminary designs, peer reviews, detailed designs, and test plans.
  • Lead development of CONOPS, conduct trade studies, and perform requirements analysis and verification for radar systems and subsystems.
  • Communicate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners, including government customers.
  • Support system integration as well as verification and validation activities
  • Translate customer or product requirements into complete system solutions that balance technical, schedule, and cost constraints.
  • Conduct functional and timeline analyses.
  • Perform cost, risk, supportability, and effectiveness analyses across the full system lifecycle (concept through disposal).
  • Develop roadmaps to maintain, enhance, or introduce mission capabilities.
  • Track and ensure performance against key technical performance measures.
  • Contribute to a dynamic development and integration lab involving both hardware and software systems.
  • Support or lead technical proposal efforts, including requirements decomposition, system architecture/design, technical writing, risk management, and cost estimation.
  • Create SysML models and/or DoDAF views using MagicDraw.
  • Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams, including:
    • Electrical/RF Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Systems Engineering
    • Test Engineering
    • Software Engineering
    • Specialty Engineering (human factors, safety, reliability, maintainability, logistics)
  •  Lead root‑cause investigations and corrective‑action teams.
  • Travel up to 10% as required.

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
  • Must have technical leadership experience for teams of larger than 50 People
  • Experience in at least one of the following areas: radar software, signal processing, and/or RF hardware
  • Secret security clearance required

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Previous work experience with phased array radars, high power amplifiers, digital beamforming, SDA mission prosecution, LPAR, HWIL simulation, surveillance, signal processing
  • Previous work experience with CAMEO Systems modeler/ MagicDraw
  • Knowledge of Kubernetes environments, in particular experience with Redhat Openshift Containerized Platform (OCP)
  • Working experience in Agile framework

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Colorado State is $110,500 - $205,500. 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. 

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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