Product Definition Manager - CAD Services & Design Standards
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Design, or a related technical field and at least 9 years of related experience; alternatively, a graduate degree in Engineering, Design, or a related technical field and at least 7 years of prior related experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 13 years of prior experience in Engineering, Design, or a related field.
- At least 9 years of CAD experience, including 3 or more years in a leadership capacity; defense-industry experience is preferred.
- Expert proficiency in Creo Parametric (PTC Creo).
- Experience investigating and resolving complex Creo model and assembly issues in a large-scale enterprise environment.
- Deep understanding of Creo assembly structures and top-down and bottom-up design methodologies.
- Deep understanding of Creo drawing and GD&T annotation best practices.
- Deep understanding of Creo configuration and customization, including config.pro and mapkeys.
- Deep understanding of Creo Model-Based Definition implementation.
- Deep understanding of Creo-Windchill PLM integration and data management workflows.
- Experience supporting large user communities of 50 or more users with Creo technical issues.
- Experience documenting and communicating complex Creo technical solutions to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Expert proficiency in Windchill PLM for product data management.
- Experience managing CAD data structures, workflows, and release processes within Windchill.
- Familiarity with Windchill enterprise configuration and administration.
- Strong knowledge of ASME Y14.5 GD&T and CAD standards.
- Proven ability to deliver Product Definitions through PLM systems.
- Experience with MSSL (Missile Systems) programs.
- Familiarity with Microsoft 365 applications, including OneNote, Teams, Project, and Visio.
- A track record of implementing process improvements and new CAD methodologies.
- Demonstrated technical and staff leadership capabilities.
- Experience representing technical interests on governance boards.
- Experience managing budgets and resource allocation.
- Knowledge of production support requirements for Operations, Tooling, and Quality.
- Serve as the primary Creo subject matter expert for the Los Angeles site and enterprise-wide user community.
- Investigate, diagnose, and resolve complex Creo model and assembly issues across a large and diverse user base, including part and assembly modeling failures, top-down design structure issues, drawing and annotation failures, Model-Based Definition implementation challenges, and Windchill PLM integration and data management issues.
- Develop and maintain Creo best practices, templates, and standard configurations for site-wide and enterprise use.
- Partner with enterprise CAD teams to resolve systemic Creo issues affecting multiple programs.
- Evaluate and implement Creo software updates and new functionality to improve productivity and quality.
- Provide hands-on Creo training and mentorship to CAD staff and engineering users across the Los Angeles site.
- Create, maintain, and release Product Definitions for Canoga Park MSSL projects.
- Ensure CAD process discipline and technical excellence across all programs.
- Provide Product Definition Basis of Estimate creation and review support to program teams.
- Support Operations, Tooling, and Quality Centers of Excellence at the Canoga Park site.
- Oversee daily task assignments and workload distribution for 10 CAD Services staff members and contingent workforce.
- Lead employee development, training, and performance management.
- Manage department budgets and ensure appropriate staffing levels to meet program demands.
- Foster staff growth through goal-setting and skill development initiatives.
- Build collaborative relationships with program integrated product teams and functional leadership.
- Represent Canoga Park MSSL program interests on the AR Segment CAD Process and Governance team.
- Implement and maintain AR CAD Standards across new and existing programs.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and participate in AR segment-wide projects.
- Deliver CAD Process training across the Canoga Park Design organization.
- Champion adoption of methodologies such as Model-Based Definition to enhance quality, release responsiveness, and digital-thread goals.
- Represent the Los Angeles site on CAD and PLM Governance boards, advocating for site program business needs while aligning with common processes.
- Defense-industry experience.
About the company
L3Harris Technologies provides aerospace, defense, and space systems for governments and commercial customers, including sensors, communications, propulsion, and space assets. Its products combine hardware and software into integrated systems used for missions, from tactical radios and night vision to satellite payloads and missile defense. The company blends two legacies—Harris and L3—plus an acquisition strategy to deliver quick, field-ready capabilities, with a focus on space, missiles, and resilient satellite communications. Its goal is to deliver mission-ready defense and intelligence technology at scale for national security and related customers.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Melbourne, Florida
Founded
1895
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- July 2026 backlog hit $42 billion after $7.3 billion orders and raised guidance.
- June 2026 Camden groundbreaking expands PAC-3 capacity as missile inventories stay depleted.
- August 2026 Intuitive Machines contract deepens L3Harris's SDA Tranche 3 missile-defense platform.
What critics are saying
- Christopher Kubasik's August 2026 ouster exposed governance fragility and succession disruption.
- Aerojet Rocketdyne integration and Camden expansions must execute flawlessly before 2030 demand spikes.
- Lockheed and Pentagon pricing pressure can compress margins if delivery slips or defects emerge.
What makes L3Harris Technologies unique
- PAC-3 and THAAD propulsion make L3Harris irreplaceable in U.S. missile defense.
- Space & Mission Systems plus Missile Solutions give Sam Mehta 80% revenue control.
- Roman telescope optics and NGI motors show unmatched breadth across space and interceptors.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Mental Health Support
Relocation Assistance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
15%1 year growth
15%2 year growth
15%L3Harris stock has fallen 16% over the past month following the firing of CEO Christopher Kubasik over conduct issues, despite the company's progress in drone defence technology. The defence contractor's VAMPIRE launcher system, firing BAE Systems' APKWS rockets costing $22,000 each, has successfully shot down Russian Shahed drones worth $50,000, reversing the cost dynamics of drone warfare. The stock now trades below 16 times forward free cash flow, having underperformed defence peers by over 20 percentage points. Sam Mehta stepped in as CEO following Kubasik's departure. L3Harris also supplies solid rocket motors for advanced interceptor missiles including the Patriot system. The company's shares are down 35% from their all-time high set earlier this year.
L3Harris Technologies has secured a seven-year, $4.7 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to manufacture Patriot missile defence components. The Melbourne, Florida-based defence contractor will produce advanced two-pulse solid rocket motor propulsion systems for the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor, designed to neutralise aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic threats. This marks L3Harris's largest PAC-3 propulsion contract. The company operates a facility in Northampton, Massachusetts, through its KEO division, which produces naval technology including US periscope systems and radar systems for surface ships and submarines. To meet production demands, L3Harris broke ground on two new facilities in Camden, Arkansas, in June. The expansion supports the US Department of Defense's goal to increase annual interceptor production from approximately 600 units to 2,000 units by 2030.
L3Harris Technologies has provided key components for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which recently launched successfully. The company supplied the 2.4-metre Optical Telescope Assembly and radiation-hardened electronics for the observatory, which will operate approximately 1 million miles from Earth. The telescope is designed to survey the cosmos 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope. Once operational, it will conduct three primary surveys, including scanning roughly 12% of the entire sky in under 18 months to measure the universe's expansion rate and study supernova explosions from up to 8 billion years ago. The project represents more than a decade of collaboration between L3Harris and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. L3Harris has previously contributed technology to missions including the James Webb Space Telescope and Mars rovers.
L3Harris Technologies selected Intuitive Machines on 4 August to build 18 advanced spacecraft platforms for the Space Development Agency's Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 mission. Intuitive Machines will manufacture and deliver the satellite platforms to host L3Harris' payload technology for national security space operations. L3Harris reported Q2 2026 revenue of $5.9 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase, with net income of $600 million. The company raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $23.2 billion–$23.7 billion, backed by a $42.0 billion backlog. Intuitive Machines reported Q2 2026 revenue of $206 million, more than four times its prior-year level. However, the company posted an operating loss of $47 million and burned $84 million in cash during the quarter, leaving $367 million in cash. Its backlog expanded to a record $1.8 billion.
Christopher Kubasik has been ousted as CEO of L3 Harris following allegations of misconduct. According to Semafor, citing sources familiar with the matter, an investigation found he was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. This marks the second time Kubasik has been forced out of a leadership position under similar circumstances. In 2012, he was set to become CEO of Lockheed Martin but resigned after an ethics investigation confirmed he had a close personal relationship with a subordinate employee. L3 Harris, headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, announced Kubasik's departure on 17 August. The company said the misconduct was unrelated to financial reporting, controls, customer relationships or operational performance. Kubasik will retain some vested stock options but won't receive severance payments.