Sr. Manager, Systems Engineering
L3HARRIS Technologies
San Diego, CA · Posted October 19, 2026
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November 2026
- #1Cities hosting the most business conferences in the West Coast78 conferences · of 17
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About the job
Job Description:
Job Title: Sr. Systems Engineering Manager, T&RF
Job Code: 42501
Job Location: San Diego, CA
Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off
The Systems Engineering Manager reports to the T&RF Engineering Director and leads a multidisciplinary systems engineering team of 10 to 12 direct reports supporting the capture, development, integration, verification, production, and sustainment of T&RF products for space and defense missions. This role is accountable for technical planning, requirements definition, architecture development, interface management, system verification, and team execution across product lines that include secure communications payloads, satellite command and control, mission radio frequency data links, high power amplifiers, tactical satellite communications terminals, and embedded information assurance and communications security solutions. The manager is expected to incorporate model-based systems engineering into program execution, proposal efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Essential Functions:
Lead, mentor, and develop a systems engineering team of 10 to 12 direct reports supporting multiple T&RF programs, independent research and development efforts, and capture and proposal activities.
Own system requirements decomposition, concept of operations, architecture definition, interface control, verification planning, and technical baseline management from capture through production and sustainment.
Drive adoption and practical use of model-based systems engineering and digital engineering methods, including SysML-based modeling, to improve requirements traceability, architecture communication, and verification readiness.
Partner with Program Management, Chief Engineers, Product Line Leaders, Software, Field-Programmable Gate Array, Electrical, Mechanical, Test, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to achieve cost, schedule, and technical objectives.
Support customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and proposal activities for Department of Defense, intelligence community, civil, and commercial space opportunities.
Balance team staffing, priorities, budgets, and development plans across multiple efforts while maintaining execution against milestones and commitments.
Ensure systems engineering artifacts comply with contract requirements, internal processes, and applicable military, aerospace, communications security, and space standards.
Lead technical trade studies, risk and opportunity management, and issue resolution involving mission radio frequency links, secure communications, terminal architectures, payload performance, and command and control solutions.
Guide integration and test strategy, verification closure, and problem resolution across development laboratories, qualification activities, and fielded environments.
Build a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, and mission focus while representing systems engineering to senior leadership and customers.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field with a minimum of 12 years of prior related experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience.
Active Secret Security Clearance.
Preferred Additional Skills:
Experience leading systems engineering activities for radio frequency communications, satellite communications, space payloads, terminals, or other complex aerospace and defense systems.
Working knowledge of the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements management, architecture development, interface definition, integration and test, verification and validation, and technical reviews.
Demonstrated ability to incorporate model-based systems engineering into product development, program execution, or technology roadmaps.
Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers and to lead cross-functional technical teams through ambiguity and change.
Advanced degree in a related technical field or prior formal engineering management experience.
Experience with tracking, telemetry, and command systems, crosslinks, mission radio frequency data links, software-defined radio frequency payloads, satellite command and control, high power amplifiers, tactical satellite communications terminals, integrated broadcast service receivers, embedded information assurance and communications security, specialized waveforms, or mission-specific terminals.
Experience with model-based systems engineering tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Rhapsody, Capella, or similar, and requirements tools such as DOORS, Jama, or equivalent.
Familiarity with digital engineering, open systems approaches, interface standards, and model-driven verification planning.
Experience supporting staffing plans, basis of estimates, proposal volumes, and strategic growth activities.
Experience in highly regulated defense or aerospace environments with export-controlled or classified programs.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C. area, Denver, or NYC areas is $153,000 - $284,000. 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.
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