Title:  Director, Engineering Management (HW Engineering Discipline Lead)

Job Title: Director, Engineering Management (HW Engineering Discipline Lead)

Job Code: 45829

Job Location: Fort Wayne, IN

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

Job Description:

For more than 60 years, L3Harris Technologies has been at the forefront of space innovation, developing mission critical technologies for missile warning and weather detection that protect lives and property around the world every day. We are currently seeking a highly accomplished engineering leader to oversee a large, multi-disciplinary hardware organization within our growing Spectral Solutions division within the Space Systems Sector. This role leads 200+ engineers across mechanical and electrical disciplines supporting the development and delivery of advanced infrared payloads and space vehicle systems for the missile defense and global weather missions.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical credibility, proven organizational leadership, and the ability to operate both strategically and tactically. This leader will define and communicate a compelling vision, influence senior leaders, and build a high-performing engineering organization through effective hiring, mentoring, and talent development.

This role is central to shaping the future of space hardware development as the market continues to evolve from bespoke, exquisite systems toward more proliferated and production-oriented architectures. The successful candidate will bring the judgment to balance technical performance with cost, schedule, manufacturability, and mission assurance.

This position is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, a Northeast Indiana engineering hub offering an average commute of under 20 minutes, a housing market consistently recognized as among the more affordable in the U.S., an extensive parks and trail system, and a growing downtown that features local restaurants, arts, and year-round community events.

Essential Functions:

• Lead a large, geographically distributed hardware engineering organization spanning mechanical, thermal, structural, materials, analog, digital, power, reliability, and radiation disciplines
• Provide leadership across the full product lifecycle, including capture, design, procurement, assembly, integration, test, qualification, delivery, and post-delivery support
• Drive execution across a portfolio of space programs ranging from exquisite, high-reliability missions to faster-turn demonstration efforts
• Develop and execute organizational strategy for technology, talent growth and succession, and continuous improvement
• Partner with business, program, supply chain, and technical leaders
• Communicate effectively with executives, customers, and technical teams to align vision, priorities, and execution
• Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance
• Willingness to travel 10% - 20%

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or related field with a minimum of 15 years of prior relevant experience; or Graduate Degree with a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience; or in lieu of a degree, 19 years of prior related experience

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience with electro-optical or infrared payload systems
• Experience leading large engineering teams across multiple hardware disciplines
• Experience in space hardware or other high-reliability mission technology development
• Experience with complex space-based designs including electro-optical payloads
• Experience with design for manufacturability, low-rate initial production, and transitioning from development to production
• Experience with ECAD, MCAD, and configuration management
• Experience with cost estimating, resource planning, and Earned Value Management
• Experience using leading indicators and metrics to drive product or organizational improvement
• Demonstrated success scaling teams and building talent pipelines in support of growth
• Experience applying lean principles, modern tools, and process improvements to engineering organizations
• Experience working with supply chain and manufacturing to support supplier development, production readiness, and product acceptance
• Experience developing new products for NASA, NOAA, USSF or other high-reliability customers

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