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Senior Specialist Systems Engineering

L3Harris

Ashburn, VAFull-time$107–198K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$107–198K/yr
Location
Ashburn, VA
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.

Secret clearance

Job overview

L3Harris seeks a Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer to support its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration and Test team in Ashburn, Virginia. The role leads systems requirements development and management, integration, verification, validation, and performance characterization for complex electronic systems. It also includes technical oversight, risk mitigation, testing, troubleshooting, mentoring, and customer support. The position is onsite and follows a 9/80 schedule.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Systems EngineeringAerospace SystemsIntegrated Hardware SoftwareModel-Based Systems EngineeringMATLABLabVIEWPythonC/C++/C#Unmanned Aircraft SystemsGuided Weapon SystemsRadar SystemsSensor ModalitiesTactical RadioRF SystemsDOORSProposal DevelopmentBasis of EstimatesUse Case DevelopmentMicrosoft OfficeCollaborationCommunicationSystem IntegrationEngineering TestingSystem Performance Characterization

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Equivalent Experience6+ Years Relevant ExperienceGraduate Degree or Equivalent Experience4+ Years Related Experience10+ Years Related ExperienceActive US Secret ClearanceCurrent 5-Year Clearance Update

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: Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer

Job Code: 46508

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:

L3Harris Advanced Effects is seeking a Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer Technician to join our Integration and Test team supporting our family of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). As the Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for leading and developing hardware and software requirements definition, decomposition, allocation, management, verification, and validation of technical products and systems. You will also be responsible for conducting component trade studies, performing system integration, and characterizing system performance.

This is a mission-focused, highly technical position requiring excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. The role includes event planning, system preparation, troubleshooting, maintenance, training and customer support. The position requires the ability to work independently and leading a dynamic team under varying environmental conditions.

As the Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for hardware and software requirements development, definition, decomposition, allocation, management, verification, and validation of technical products and systems. You will also be responsible for conducting component trade studies, performing system integration, and characterizing system performance.

Essential Functions:

  • Responsible for requirements development, definition, flow-down and traceability for complex electronic systems embracing agile product systems and software development and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) processes to enhance development speed and quality

  • Systems Design Requirements

  • Lead and perform integration activities on new designs, updates, etc.

  • Develop integration & verification plans/procedures

  • Coordinate integration testing to verify system operation

  • Coordinate with Test Engineers to ensure proper execution of tests

  • Leads the execution of rapid learning cycles in requirements development, design, build, integration & test and verification & validation.

  • Technical Oversight

  • Leads and addresses technical issues that arise during production and implements solutions.

  • Identify risks in system design and production processes and develop mitigation strategies.

  • Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance and training

  • Elevates issues to Chief Systems Engineer when unable to resolve

  • Collaborate across engineering and operations functions to drive to a solution

  • Vendor interaction with respect to technical issues

  • Develop, track and present technical performance metrics

  • Perform risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for complex projects.

  • Conduct lessons learned sessions and apply findings to future deliveries

  • Gather feedback to identify areas of improvement and implement

  • System design synthesis of complex electronic systems to include processes and interfaces in testing.

  • Responsible for improving upon existing Systems Engineering processes

  • Perform trade studies on a variety of systems and components.

  • Create, maintain TDP, system spec, design documents, maintenance plans, sparing plans, verification procedures.

  • Analyze data from design verification test efforts.

  • Develop and run simulations and other analysis tools to predict system performance in various environments.

  • Execute system integration and engineering test efforts

  • Perform design verification testing efforts including lab, chamber, ground and flight test

  • Develops or champions new systems, concepts, or technologies

  • Ability to lift to 20 lbs.

  • Up to 10% of travel may be required.

  • Other duties as required.

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 US Secret security clearance with current 5-year update

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Experience with and an understanding of aerospace systems, especially in the development of integrated hardware/software products

  • Experience with Model Based Systems Engineering

  • Experience with MATLAB, LabView, Python, or C/C++/C#

  • Experience in unmanned aircraft or guided weapon systems

  • Experience in radar systems, other sensor modalities, tactical radio, or RF systems

  • Experience with requirements management using DOORS.

  • Experience with proposal development including generating basis of estimates.

  • Experience in development of use cases developed from customer objectives and concepts of operations.

  • Experience using Microsoft Office products.

  • Excellent people skills to include collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team environment.

  • Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, & presentation)

  • System Engineering experience in which the applicant has been involved in the design and integration of complex hardware/software systems, the definition of multiple interfaces and been involved in the trades of multiple solution options.

  • Hands on experience being involved in system integration, engineering testing, and system performance characterization.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in the Greater D.C. areas is Min $106,500.00 - $197,500.00 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.

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 2,857 open Systems Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$107–198K/yr
  • Virginia median$141–200K/yr180 salary ranges
  • US median$135–208K/yr2,065 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $152K, is 14% below the Virginia median midpoint ($176K) — in the middle half of Systems Engineering salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 229 open Systems Engineering jobs in Virginia and 2,857 across the US. 5% 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; Systems Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for 7 years at the median (2,207 postings).
Education
954 of the 2,857 open Systems Engineering jobs (33%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 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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