Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineer
L3HARRIS Technologies
Sterling, VA · Posted September 29, 2026
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Where Sterling, VA ranks
Where Sterling, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #6Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Southeast65% · of 87
- #7Best cities for mid-career professionals65% · of 100
- #8Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic65% · of 85
- #12Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Southeast6% · of 77
- #14Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Mid-Atlantic155 openings · of 68
- #17Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the Mid-Atlantic6% · of 62
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
Job Title: Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineer Job Code: 45281 Job Location: Sterling, VA Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked, and have every other Friday off
Job Description:
During its 120-year history, L3Harris has transformed communications and information technology. L3Harris is a proven leader in tactical communications, geospatial systems and services, air traffic management, environmental solutions, avionics and electronic warfare, and space and intelligence. From ocean to orbit and everywhere in between, we provide mission-critical solutions to connect, inform and protect the world.
On the L3Harris team, your job is to secure the world. We don't work here just for the advanced technology and equipment: we work here because we know what - and who - we're protecting! From families to the intelligence community, and from our climate to our men and women in uniform - we're making the world a safer place!
Design and qualify the precision mechanisms behind mission systems used in complex, high-consequence environments. You’ll own major components and sub-systems from early concepts through integration and test, helping L3Harris deliver dependable capability for customers executing their most challenging missions.
This is an on-site role because the work includes direct lab, prototype, integration, and hardware-test activity at Sterling, VA.
Essential Functions:
Lead mechanical design, analysis, prototype integration, and qualification testing for precision mechanisms and electro-mechanical hardware.
Develop 3D models, drawings, technical data packages, and assembly documentation.
Evaluate material selections and design trades; improve designs for performance, size, weight, power, manufacturability, and reliability.
Plan and execute component and system-level tests; analyze results and drive design improvements.
Present designs and results at internal and customer reviews, including peer reviews, PDRs, and CDRs.
Partner with manufacturing, quality, configuration management, suppliers, technicians, and the program test team to transition designs into production.
Support field-test or demonstration activities as needed.
Senior professional with strong knowledge of job area and broad knowledge of project management. Manages complex projects or processes with general oversight. Communicates within and outside of own function to gain cooperation on operational processes, practices, and procedures. Makes moderate to substantial improvements to systems and processes. Contributes to achievement of departmental goals and operating plans with direct impact on the departmental results.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 6 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
Active Top Secret/SCI clearance and current favorable polygraph is required prior to start. (Active within the last two years will be considered)
Preferred Additional Skills:
Hands-on experience designing, developing, integrating, and testing complex mechanical hardware.
Experience with 3D mechanical CAD, engineering drawings, and tolerance analysis/GD&T.
Ability to work on-site in a mis of office and laboratory environments
Experience in design or development of precision mechanisms, mechatronic systems, and/or packaging of modules and electronics with considerations of thermal and structural loading and for optimizations of size, weight, and power.
Proficiency in CAD tools such as Creo and understanding of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standards.
Experience in additive manufacturing, part optimization, and design for manufacture and assembly a plus.
Experience with any of the following: actuators, custom gear trains, electro-optical systems, materials testing, and manufacturing processes.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Virginia is $102,000 - $189,000. 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.