Chief EO​/IR Systems Engineer, Space Superiority and Imaging Division

Chief EO/IR Systems Engineer, Space Superiority and Imaging Division

Job Title: Chief Engineer, Tactical Imaging Portfolio, Agile

EO – Space Superiority and Imaging Division

Job Code: 32121

Job Location: Wilmington, MA

Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off!)

Relocation: Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Other

The L3

Harris Agile

EO – Space Superiority and Imaging Systems Division in Wilmington, MA seeks a Chief Engineer to lead the Tactical Imaging portfolio with expertise in electro‑optical / IR payloads, subsystems, and software for space systems to join our growing team. This position reports directly to the Director of Engineering / Business Area Chief Engineer and is responsible for business‑aligned technology strategy, execution of ongoing customer programs, subject‑matter expert consulting for programs, and support for engineering initiative deployments / process improvements.

This includes all phases of development from pre‑award concept development, initial architecture, and development of interfaces and component requirements through design, testing and verification, on to production support.

Learn more about the satellite solutions we provide for government and commercial organizations here:

• Chief Engineer aligned to a portfolio Program Director to act as the primary liaison to the business from the Engineering Function. Significant technical areas of focus within Tactical Imaging portfolio include Optical Systems Engineering, Opto‑Mechanical Engineering, Embedded Software Engineering, Integration and Test Engineering, and Electronics Engineering (power, analog, digital, and FPGA).
• Office of the Chief Engineer Functions:
• Oversight for program performance (cost, schedule, technical) across the portfolio.
• Lead / establish Independent Review Teams through stage‑gate approvals while providing technical oversight / consulting.
• Responsible for technical issue resolution, ensure root cause is identified, and corrective actions are executed.
• Engineering point of contact for program accomplishments, issues, highlights and weekly status.
• Ensures readiness for design reviews.
• Support program technical and management leadership, as required.
• Support and lead technical discussions with customers and suppliers, as required.
• Supports new business pursuits through architecture development, technical baseline review, and proposal cost review.
• Drives to prevent unique product implementation at proposal phase/concept design.
• Identify IR&D efforts in alignment with technology roadmaps to create technological differentiators.
• Identifies opportunities for engineering improvements (people, process, and tools).
• Ensure engineering initiatives are adopted by the business.
• Drive a culture of data‑based actions; use existing data/develop tools to create actionable information to drive improvement.
• Lead continuous improvement processes and activities within Engineering.
• Ensure program staffing demand for engineering is defined and documented.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Optical Science, Physics or related discipline and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, there is a minimum of 16 years of prior related experience.
• Active Secret Security Clearance required.
• 9+ years’ experience in airborne or space‑based optical payloads development.
• Prior or current experience leading technology‑focused research and development projects.
• Prior or current experience leading technical execution teams.
• Prior or current experience with oversight for program performance (cost, schedule, technical).

• Master of Science (or higher) in Optics, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Active Top Secret / SCI security clearance.
• Functional management experience, leading a large team >50 resources across multiple disciplines.
• Space Systems domain ground system knowledge desired.
• Technical knowledge of Space‑based Optical Payloads.
• Optical architectures for space…