
Lead, Mechanical Engineer
Carlsbad, CAJob$122–227K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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Job overview
The Lead, Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms) designs and qualifies precision mechanisms and electro-mechanical hardware for mission systems. The role owns major components and subsystems from concept through integration and test, and works on-site in office and laboratory environments. It partners across manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and test teams to transition designs into production and support customer missions.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
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, Mechanical Engineer (Mechanisms)
Job Code: 47735
Job Location: Carlsbad, CA (on-site)
Job Schedule: 9/80 - Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked (Every Other Friday Off)
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.
Essential Functions:
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Lead mechanical design, analysis, prototype integration, and qualification testing for precision mechanisms and electro-mechanical hardware.
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Develop 3D models, drawings, technical data packages, and assembly documentation.
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Evaluate material selections and design trades; improve designs for performance, size, weight, power, manufacturability, and reliability.
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Plan and execute component and system-level tests; analyze results and drive design improvements.
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Present designs and results at internal and customer reviews, including peer reviews, PDRs, and CDRs.
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Partner with manufacturing, quality, configuration management, suppliers, technicians, and the program test team to transition designs into production.
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Support field-test or demonstration activities as needed.
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Ability to work on-site in a mix of office and laboratory environments.
Qualifications:
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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.
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Active Top Secret or Top Secret/SCI clearance is required. (Active within the last two years will be considered).
Preferred Additional Skills:
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Hands-on experience designing, developing, integrating, and testing complex mechanical hardware.
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Experience with 3D mechanical CAD, engineering drawings, and tolerance analysis/GD&T.
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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.
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Proficiency in CAD tools such as Creo and understanding of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standards.
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Experience in additive manufacturing, part optimization, and design for manufacture and assembly a plus.
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Experience with any of the following: actuators, custom gear trains, electro-optical systems, materials testing, and manufacturing processes.
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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 $122,000 MIN - $227,000 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-IK1
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 1,788 open Mechanical Engineering jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 13, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$122–227K/yr
- California median$138–200K/yr192 salary ranges
- US median$115–187K/yr982 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $175K, is close to the California median midpoint ($172K) — in the middle half of Mechanical Engineering salary ranges in California.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 280 open Mechanical Engineering jobs in California and 1,788 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 13 years of experience — more than three in four Mechanical Engineering postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 1,024 postings).
- Education
- 799 of the 1,788 open Mechanical Engineering jobs (45%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 13, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.
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