Scientist - Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test Engineer (SEIT)
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Job ID 23874L3Harris 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 Technologies is the Trusted Disruptor in the defense industry. 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: Scientist – Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test Engineer (SEIT)
Job Code: 23874
Job Location: Vandenberg SFB, CA
Job Schedule: 9/80
Job Description:
As the Level 6 technical leader for L3Harris’ Integrated Processing Facility (IPF) at Vandenberg SFB, you will architect and oversee the complete systems-engineering lifecycle for satellite and payload processing services. The IPF—a 500,000 ft3 ISO 7 clean-room complex with RF-attenuating test cells—has supported national-security, civil, and commercial missions since 1995. Joining the Space & Airborne Systems (SAS) division, you will collaborate with a world-class team renowned for innovation, integrity, and mission success.
Leveraging your broad expertise, you will shape capture strategies, craft winning proposals, and translate customer objectives into verifiable facility and interface requirements. You will guide multidisciplinary teams through design, assembly, test, fueling, and launch-site integration; drive Model-Based Systems Engineering practices that enhance traceability and risk governance; and champion continuous improvement, safety, and inclusion to strengthen team performance and culture. This role offers the opportunity to influence every phase of launch-site readiness while mentoring future technical leaders and advancing L3Harris’ reputation as a trusted provider.
Essential Functions:
• Lead end-to-end systems engineering for satellite and payload assembly, test, fueling, and integration.
• Translate mission objectives into functional allocations and interface requirements, performing timeline analysis and trade studies to select optimal facility solutions.
• Develop and execute verification plans, integrated test schedules, and mission-readiness reviews.
• Orchestrate cross-disciplinary engineering teams to resolve technical issues and protect schedule.
• Derive and manage ISO 7 clean-room, RF-attenuation, and environmental-control requirements, verifying facility performance against these baselines throughout the mission lifecycle.
• Produce and approve systems documentation, interface drawings, and comprehensive cost, risk, supportability, and effectiveness assessments across the mission lifecycle.
• Lead root-cause investigations for complex integration anomalies, instituting corrective actions that improve future mission reliability.
• Serve as the primary technical interface to customers and launch-range stakeholders during campaign operations.
• Cultivate technical talent and career growth within a multi-disciplinary engineering workforce through coaching, goal setting, and continuous feedback.
• Drive capture strategies, proposal development, and cost estimates that expand payload-processing business and meet margin targets.
• Forge trusted partnerships with customers, launch providers, and senior leadership to align technical scope, schedule, and risk posture.
• Embed a culture of relentless improvement, safety ownership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion across daily operations and decision processes.
• Optimize resource allocation and track key performance indicators to ensure program objectives, budgets, and staffing plans remain synchronized.
• Define and oversee engineering training road-maps, ensuring staff achieve career-framework proficiency targets and emerging-technology certifications.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, 16 years of experience is required.
• Active Secret clearance is required, TS clearance eligible.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a technical leadership role.
• 4+ years managing on-site technical staff, supporting contractors and service providers.
Preferred Additional Skills:
• Earned an advanced STEM degree and/or INCOSE CSEP/ESEP credential demonstrating expert‐level systems‐engineering mastery.
• Engineered ISO 7 clean rooms, RF-shielded test cells, and hazardous-propellant systems supporting launch-site readiness.
• Secured contract wins exceeding $50 M through persuasive technical volumes and rigorous cost-benefit analyses.
• Deployed Model-Based Systems Engineering, digital thread, and SysML to accelerate traceability and decision cycles.
• Navigated launch-range safety, OSHA, and environmental regulations, maintaining compliance without schedule impact.
• Proficient with Cameo, DOORS, and PLM suites for requirements, interface, and configuration management.
• Proven track record championing novel processing technologies that expand facility capacity or reduce mission cycle time.
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California is $150,000 - $278,000. 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 or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.