← Search all jobs

Manager, Aerospace Mechanical Engineer

L3HARRIS Technologies

Ashburn, VA · Posted October 22, 2026

Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks

See every open role at L3HARRIS Technologies

More in Virginia job market · Aerospace & Defense · Engineering jobs

More roles at L3HARRIS Technologies

Similar jobs

Where Ashburn, VA ranks

Where Ashburn, VA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.

How AI is used in this kind of work

AI use among aerospace engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for aerospace 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.

Check how this applies to your own job

Skills this job asks for

Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.

  • Agile
  • Solidworks
  • Catia

About the job

Job Title: Manager, Aerospace Mechanical Engineer

Job Code: 46498

Job Location: Ashburn, VA – On Site

Job Schedule: 9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

The Agile Development Group (ADG) specializes in developing disruptive, next-generation technologies for advanced Unmanned Air Systems (UAS / UAV), advanced radar systems, next-generation weapon systems, and other RF sensor technologies using small company agility and big company experience.

As a Mechanical Engineering Manager, you will oversee a team of Mechanical Engineers who are tasked with designing our Unmanned Aircraft products. In this position, you will be working alongside your team members on direct program work for approximately 75% of your time, and providing functional management oversight of those same employees, as well as other functional leadership responsibilities, for the remainder of your time. You will use your leadership skills and personal initiative to build and maintain a highly competent and agile Mechanical Engineering team. You will have regular interactions with your team members to help foster their career growth and ensure their job satisfaction. As a technical contributor, you will use your expertise in product development to help design and productionize our family of unmanned aircraft systems. This will include tasks such as requirements derivation, CAD modeling, analysis, manufacturing, and testing. You will use your networking abilities to build trusting relationships and lines of communication across multiple programs to help drive the performance and execution efficiency of your direct reports.

Essential Functions:

Direct tasking (75% of Duties):

Conceptual and detail design of unmanned aircraft and their supporting systems, including structures and internal packaging.

Significant CAD modeling of parts & assemblies

Perform trade studies to determine optimal designs

Structural and thermal analysis of components & assemblies

Electromechanical integration and electronics packaging

Lead mechanical design efforts

Lead peer reviews, PDRs, CDRs, and other required design reviews

Schedule, cost, and technical responsibility at the major subsystem level

Cost estimation for proposals

Primary interface to customers & upper management

Provide guidance and mentorship for other team members formally or informally

Responsible to direct and review the work of junior engineers and designers and technicians.

Participate in risk assessment and develop mitigation strategies for complex projects

Ability to obtain and maintain any additional clearances as required

Ability to obtain a US Secret Security clearance

Up to 10% travel may be required

Managerial Tasking:

Manage a team of 6-10 Mechanical Engineers and Designers by recruiting, selecting, orienting, planning, and training employees. Coach, counsel, monitor, and appraise staff performance.

Promote the career progression of your direct reports

Promote employee engagement – help make this a great place to work!

Coordinate staffing needs for programs. Interview and hire as needed.

Conduct performance reviews and solicit peer feedback about you team’s performance

Contribute to departmental process improvement initiatives

Be knowledgeable of the specific contributions made by your team members to foster specific performance discussions

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years prior related experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

Prior experience in developing aircraft structures or major sub-assemblies is strongly desired

Some experience in packaging electronics

Excellent people skills, with experience leading and collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team environment.

Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, & presentation)

Strong hands-on capabilities, to include integration and diagnosis of complex mechanisms and products

Experience in design for and testing to military environments (i.e. temperature, vibration, shock, etc.)

Expertise in 3D CAD modeling - PTC Creo is strongly preferred

Minimum 8 years experience in mechanical design, requirements analysis, specification generation, interface definition, component selection, component 3D CAD modeling, data collection, and product documentation

Minimum 3 years experience leading and collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team environment.

Prior or current experience working on aerospace products/systems

5+ years experience in 3D CAD modeling – PTC Creo, Catia, NX, or Solidworks

Experience using Microsoft Office products

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in the Virginia, Greater D.C. areas is Min $122,000.00 - $227,000.00 Max. 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.

#LI-KM1