Lead Software Engineer

Job Description: 

We are seeking a highly experienced Rapid Prototyping Engineer to join our Rapid Prototyping Group (RPG) and lead the development of innovative capabilities from concept through demonstration and transition. In this role, you will architect, design, build, integrate, test, and mature quick-turn prototypes that support proof-of-concept initiatives, emerging technology assessments, customer demonstrations, and early-stage product development. This position requires a broad engineering background spanning systems architecture and design, software and radio architectures, and hardware/software integration. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy while providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, helping shape solution strategies, drive architectural decisions, and ensure prototypes are scalable, mission-aligned, and positioned for future operational use. 

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader with broad engineering depth, strong systems thinking, and a demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguous, fast-paced environments. You are comfortable balancing speed with sound engineering judgment, mentoring other engineers, evaluating and integrating new technologies, and guiding efforts through evolving requirements and complex technical challenges. You bring working knowledge of software development, radio architectures, system integration, and prototype development, along with the ability to connect multiple engineering disciplines into cohesive, mission-relevant solutions. If you are energized by solving hard problems, influencing technical direction, and rapidly transforming ideas into impactful capabilities, we encourage you to apply.  

Essential Functions:  

• Translate emerging concepts, customer needs, and experimental objectives into functional prototype and demonstration capabilities for advanced military communications systems, providing technical leadership in shaping approaches, architectures, and implementation strategies. 

• Architect, design, develop, integrate, test, and refine multidisciplinary prototypes spanning software, hardware, radio, and system-level elements, ensuring robust and effective execution in demanding prototype environments. 

• Lead the design, implementation, integration, test, and technical demonstration of complex subsystem and system-level capabilities in a rapid prototyping environment, driving efforts from initial concept through working demonstration. 

• Apply working knowledge of software architectures, radio architectures, systems architecture and design, and hardware/software integration to evaluate technical options, identify tradeoffs, and mature concepts into operationally relevant capabilities. 

• Troubleshoot complex technical issues across software, hardware, and integrated system interfaces using appropriate development, test, and debug tools, isolating root causes and driving effective resolution with minimal oversight. 

• Collaborate across software, hardware, RF, mechanical, field testing, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to evaluate interfaces, operational requirements, and technical constraints, while influencing solution direction and advancing concepts into demonstrable capabilities. 

• Communicate technical progress, issues, risks, tradeoffs, and recommended paths forward clearly and effectively to team members, leadership, customers, and end users, while operating with a high degree of independence and exercising advanced engineering judgment in a fast-paced development environment. 

• Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree with 9 years prior experience, Graduate Degree with 7 years prior experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.  

Preferred Additional Skills: 

• Broad technical knowledge across adjacent engineering disciplines, including software, hardware, RF, electrical interfaces, digital design concepts, embedded systems, and system integration for communications and prototype platforms. 

• Working knowledge of software development practices and tools, including experience with embedded and Linux-based environments, debugging, integration, and development in languages such as C, C++, Python, Rust, or other relevant technologies. 

• Familiarity with radio architectures, tactical communications systems, waveforms, networking interfaces, and operational applications relevant to military or mission-focused communications environments. 

• Strong understanding of rapid prototyping processes, including iterative development, risk reduction, fast-turn integration, design trade studies, and engineering tradeoffs between speed, performance, scalability, and technical rigor. 

• Experience applying AI/ML tools and techniques across the development lifecycle, including prototype capability enhancement, automation, model development, training, or decision support applications. 

• Working knowledge of networking concepts, protocols, and troubleshooting, including familiarity with IP-based systems, device configuration, integration, and emerging communications technologies such as 5G. 

• Additional relevant experience may include FPGA or HDL development, microcontrollers, Linux kernel work, low-level communication interfaces, digital signal processing, test automation, or system bring-up and integration. 

The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, Cleveland Ohio, Vermont and Virginia is $117,000 - $218,000. 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.