Manager, Aerospace Mechanical Engineer
L3HARRIS Technologies
Ashburn, VA · Posted October 22, 2026
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Where Ashburn, VA ranks
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November 2026
- #2Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Southeast68% · of 87
- #3Best cities for mid-career professionals68% · of 100
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- #21Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Southeast121 openings · of 63
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Rankings about engineering jobs
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- 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%)
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- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
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.
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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.
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