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Senior Specialist, Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms)

L3Harris

Chantilly, VAJob$102–190K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$102–190K/yr
Location
Chantilly, VA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearance

Job overview

The Senior Specialist Mechanical Engineer will design and qualify precision mechanisms for mission systems in high-consequence environments. The role owns major components and subsystems from concept through integration and test, and works on-site in office and laboratory settings. The engineer leads design, analysis, prototyping, and qualification testing, then partners across manufacturing and program teams to transition designs into production.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Mechanical DesignMechanical AnalysisPrototype IntegrationQualification Testing3D Mechanical CADEngineering DrawingsTolerance AnalysisGD&TPrecision MechanismsMechatronic SystemsThermal LoadingStructural LoadingCreoASME Y14.5Additive ManufacturingDesign for Manufacture and AssemblyActuatorsCustom Gear TrainsElectro-Optical SystemsMaterials TestingManufacturing Processes

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Equivalent Experience6+ Years Relevant ExperienceGraduate Degree or Equivalent Experience4+ Years Related Experience10+ Years Related ExperienceActive Top Secret or TS/SCI ClearanceFavorable Polygraph

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Tuition Assistance
Parental Leave
Paid Time Off

Full job description

L3Harris 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. L3Harris 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.

L3Harris 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.

Job Title: Sr. Specialist, Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms)

Job Code: 47356

Job Location: Chantilly, VA (on-site at any of these locations)

Job Schedule: 9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked (Every Other Friday Off)

*** Sign-on bonuses available for qualified candidates with a current Polygraph ***

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 onsite.

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.

  • Ability to work on-site in a mix of office and laboratory environments.

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 or Top Secret/SCI clearance is required. (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.

  • 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.

  • Favorable polygraph.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C, Denver, or NYC areas is $102,000 MIN - $189,500 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-FS1

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf) or Spanish (https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf) . For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRights\_10\_20.pdf) or Spanish (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/22-088\_EEOC\_KnowYourRightsSp\_10\_20.pdf) .

How this job compares

Set against the 1,760 open Mechanical Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$102–190K/yr
  • Virginia median$124–187K/yr35 salary ranges
  • US median$115–187K/yr867 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $146K, is 7% below the Virginia median midpoint ($156K) — in the middle half of Mechanical Engineering salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 57 open Mechanical Engineering jobs in Virginia and 1,760 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
This posting asks for at least 6 years of experience; Mechanical Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (986 postings).
Education
777 of the 1,760 open Mechanical Engineering jobs (44%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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