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Lead, Systems Engineering (NSDC Operations Lead)

L3Harris

Schriever AFB, COFull-time$111–206K/yrSeen 3w agoSeen in employer's feed 4 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$111–206K/yr
Location
Schriever AFB, CO
Schedule
Full-time
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.

SCI AccessTop Secret clearance

Job overview

The Lead Systems Engineer provides technical leadership in space operations, including tactics development, planning, exercises, and lifecycle support for complex systems focused on protecting and defending space assets. The role leads cross-functional technical efforts and supports program execution from concept development through production and sustainment. It works with customer and intelligence-community partners and requires full-time work at a customer site in Colorado Springs.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Orbital MechanicsSpace SystemsSpace OperationsIntegration and TestTeam ManagementTactics DevelopmentOperational PlanningExercise SupportLifecycle SupportCross-Functional LeadershipSystems EngineeringSTK CertificationAstrogatorDoD/NRO SpacecraftJoint OperationsJoint PublicationsSpace Operations LeadershipSAP/STO Mission AreasSpace Domain AwarenessTier-1 Military ExercisesProduct Lifecycle EngineeringComplex Technical Issue ResolutionWritten CommunicationVerbal CommunicationPresentation Skills

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience9+ Years Relevant ExperienceGraduate Degree or Equivalent Experience7+ Years Related Experience13+ Years Related ExperienceTop Secret ClearanceSCI AccessCounterintelligence 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: Lead, Systems Engineering (NSDC Operations Lead)

Job Code: 45809

Job Location: Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado

Job Schedule: 5/8 Monday-Friday

Job Description:

The Tie Dye program is seeking highly skilled and motivated Systems Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will have a background in orbital mechanics, space systems, space operations, integration & test experience and team management.

The Lead Systems Engineer provides advanced technical leadership in space operations including tactics development, planning, exercises, and lifecycle support of complex systems with an emphasis on protecting and defending space assets. This role applies space operations principles across the space enterprise including partners from the IC.

The engineer works independently on complex assignments, leads cross-functional technical efforts, and supports program execution from concept development through production and sustainment. The position requires strong collaboration with hardware, software, mechanical, test, quality, and management of teams to ensure the delivered solution meets performance, cost, schedule, and compliance requirements.

Essential Functions:

  • Work full time at a customer site in Colorado Springs.

  • Coordinate with geographically separated operators, creating synergy between various commands and organizations.

  • Certify as BSA-N crew member and periodically work crew shifts that may include holidays, nights, and weekends.

  • Partner with members of the IC in support of the Protect and Defend mission.

  • Support the development of CONOPS, procedures and the operational checkout of new systems and applications.

  • Participate in customer planning, technical exchange, and coordination meetings, as well as Engineering Review Boards.

  • Support the PMO with technical inputs on contract performance.

  • Participate in and provide site specific information for the project readiness review cycle, develop and conduct design reviews, and provide implementation coordination with affected users.

Qualifications:

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

  • Active Top Secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information and an in-scope fully adjudicated Counterintelligence Polygraph.

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • STK Certification and/or Astrogator knowledge.

  • Familiarity with DoD/NRO spacecraft and missions.

  • Prior experience supporting Joint Operations including Joint Pubs 3-14 & 5.0.

  • Prior space operations lead responsibilities.

  • Knowledge of SAP/STO mission areas.

  • Space Domain Awareness experience.

  • Prior support to Tier-1 military exercises.

  • Experience applying systems engineering processes across the product lifecycle.

  • Experience working in cross-functional engineering teams on complex technical programs.

  • Ability to analyze and resolve complex technical issues with limited oversight.

  • Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Colorado is $110,500 to $205,500.00. 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.

The application window for this position will close on 2/21/2027

#LI-ZB1

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 2,892 open Systems Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 5, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$111–206K/yr
  • Colorado median$120–186K/yr211 salary ranges
  • US median$136–206K/yr2,101 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $158K, is 5% above the Colorado median midpoint ($151K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineering salary ranges in Colorado.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 242 open Systems Engineering jobs in Colorado and 2,892 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Colorado
Experience
This posting asks for at least 13 years of experience — more than three in four Systems Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 2,286 postings).
Education
982 of the 2,892 open Systems Engineering jobs (34%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 5, 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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