About this role
<p><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Title: </strong> Lead, Systems Engineer – Mission Protection</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Code:</strong> 38140</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Location:</strong> Springfield, Virginia (100% On-site)</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Schedule:</strong> 5/8</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Job Description:</strong> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">L3Harris Technologies is seeking a Lead Systems Engineer – Mission Protection to support a high-visibility, mission-critical national security program. This individual will lead the contractor Mission Protection team and serve as the primary authority for Mission Protection activities supporting sensitive space and ground capabilities for U.S. Government operations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">This position is responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating threats across space, cyber, and ground segments. The selected candidate will apply operational security (OPSEC), counterintelligence, cyber defense, and threat analysis principles to protect critical systems and ensure the survivability and resilience of U.S. assets in contested and degraded environments.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">The ideal candidate demonstrates strong leadership, technical depth in threat-informed engineering, and the ability to integrate Mission Protection requirements into operational planning, system architecture, and lifecycle activities.<br></span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Essential Functions:</strong> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Conduct mission protection assessments to identify vulnerabilities across space, cyber, and ground architectures.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Collaborate with mission planners, operators, and mission partners to integrate protection strategies throughout the system lifecycle.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Lead the development of mitigation plans and help implement countermeasures aligned with mission assurance priorities.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Coordinate with DoW and IC stakeholders to ensure protection efforts are synchronized with national-level guidance and classification policies.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Develop and maintain program-specific threat models, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and risk management frameworks.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Lead the Mission Protection contracting team to red/blue team assessments, tabletop exercises, and program security reviews.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Prepare briefings and documentation for senior leadership on threat assessments, mitigation strategies, and mission assurance outcomes.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Ability to obtain and maintain a Battlespace Awareness operations certification.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Able to work independently and collaboratively in classified operations centers, supporting 24/7 mission requirements when needed.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing senior stakeholders.<br><br></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Qualifications:</strong> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• 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.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Active Top Secret/SCI with CI Poly clearance required.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• 5 years of experience with threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, and risk management.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• 5 years of experience working with or supporting a Weapons and Tactics (W&T) team, with familiarity in integrating protection strategies.<br><br></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt"><strong>Preferred Additional Skills:</strong> </span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Graduate of Air Force Weapon School or Advance Instructor Course (AIC).</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• DoW/NRO Systems Liaison / Field Representative</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• Strong Orbital Mechanics background.</span><br><span style="font-family:verdana, geneva, sans-serif;font-size:14.0pt">• System Tool Kit (STK) Level 2/3 Certification; Orbital Determination Tool Kit (ODTK)</span></p>