Scientist, Business Chief Engineer - Space Superiority and Imaging Division; EO​/IR Space Payloads

L3

Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3

Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3

Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Scientist, Business Chief Engineer – Space Superiority and Imaging Division (EO/IR Space Payloads)

36670

Rochester, NY

9‑80 (Every other Friday off)

Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants

L3

Harris’ Space and Mission Systems is seeking a Chief Engineer with expertise in research & development for electro‑optical payloads, subsystems, and software for mid to large aperture national, civil, and commercial space systems. The person in this position will be deployed as an Innovation Chief Engineer for a large business area within L3

Harris, responsible for the technical strategy and technical execution of ongoing customer‑funded efforts. This includes all phases of technology development from mission and technology road mapping, planning and execution of internal R&D, identifying and assisting with capture of external R&D, through technology insertion and implementation. The Innovation Chief Engineer will also be responsible for identifying broader functional needs for insertion and successful implementation of new technologies (process improvements, identification of capital needs, etc.).

• Application of knowledge of national, civil, and commercial space imaging missions to develop sensors, payloads, and space vehicles.
• Provide leadership on optical, electrical, and mechanical assemblies, and drive consistency within technology roadmaps and architectures in area of focus.
• Drive innovation in technical competencies like segmented optical systems, composite optics, smart payloads, and on‑board processing.
• Works with business development and business area leads to create and maintain technology roadmaps.
• Develop and determine an execution plan for R&D projects consistent with the technology roadmaps, in alignment with XIS business strategy.
• Identifies IR&D, CR&D, and process improvement efforts in alignment with technology roadmaps to create technology differentiators.
• Provide mentorship to develop lower‑level engineering staff into future SMEs.
• Responsible for technical leadership and management of current R&D projects.
• Identify areas of common technology needs across the division by working with other Innovation CEs within SSID.
• Interface with Universities and Industrial partners for collaboration on development.
• Identify emerging technologies.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or similar technical field or equivalent and a minimum of 15 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• 3+ years of functional management experience, leading a large team >50 resources across multiple disciplines.
• Professional experience working with EO/IR space payloads.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance required.

• 5+ years of Space Systems knowledge desired.
• Strong multi-disciplinary technical breadth in Space and Optical Systems.
• Understanding of precision optical component and subsystem requirements generation, manufacturing, and testing.
• Ability to quickly understand missions, customer sets, drive strategy.
• Experience in technical issue resolution, ability to ensure root cause is identified.
• Experience with NDAs, Master Research Agreements, & other partnership agreements consistent with co‑development projects.
• Experience with development of detailed R&D plans and execution strategies.
• Experience with or…