Lead, Systems Engineer - Transition Systems Engineer (PALM BAY)

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L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. 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: Lead, System Engineer – Transition Systems Engineer
Job Code: 42905
Job Location: Palm Bay, Florida
Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)

Job Description:
The Lead, Systems Engineer – Transition Systems Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the transition of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Space Vehicles to the Kobuk Ground Segment (GS). This role leads to the development of formal transition plans and ensures all activities required to move an on-orbit space vehicle from one ground segment to another are fully defined, resourced, coordinated, and executed.
The successful candidate will serve as a key interface between program teams, operations personnel, engineering teams, and customer stakeholders to ensure mission, operational, technical, and readiness requirements are understood and incorporated into the transition approach. This position requires strong systems engineering discipline, operational planning capability, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through transition milestones from initial planning through dress rehearsal and Transition to Mission Readiness Review (TMRR).
The ideal candidate will have experience in space operations, ground segment transition planning, and mission readiness activities, with the ability to communicate complex technical and operational requirements clearly to both internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Functions:
• Lead the development and execution of the formal transition plan for moving GFE space vehicles to the Kobuk Ground Segment.
• Define and manage transition activities across all phases, including planning, preparation, integration, rehearsal, execution, and Transition to Mission Readiness Review (TMRR).
• Identify internal and external resources required for each stage of the transition effort, including engineering, operations, logistics, test, cybersecurity, training, and customer support functions.
• Develop detailed transition schedules, resource plans, and activity sequencing to support successful on-orbit vehicle transition from one ground segment to another.
• Coordinate with mission operations, systems engineering, software, integration and test, cybersecurity, and program management teams to ensure all transition prerequisites, dependencies, and risks are identified and addressed.
• Communicate Space Operations Center (SOC) requirements and mission transition needs to customer stakeholders and internal teams.
• Lead cross-functional planning sessions, technical interchange meetings, readiness reviews, and transition working groups.
• Support development of operational concepts, transition procedures, checklists, risk mitigation plans, and readiness criteria associated with satellite transition activities.
• Ensure technical, operational, and programmatic requirements are incorporated into transition planning and execution.
• Track transition risks, issues, action items, and dependencies; develop mitigation and closure plans to maintain schedule and mission readiness.
• Support and/or lead dress rehearsals, readiness events, and transition execution activities to validate personnel, processes, tools, and system readiness.
• Provide systems engineering leadership for transition-related problem solving, anomaly resolution, and stakeholder coordination.
• Interface directly with customers, mission partners, and program leadership to provide status, resolve issues, and support decision-making.
• Contribute to post-transition assessments, lessons learned, and process improvements to enhance future transition efforts.
• Travel as required to support customer meetings, operational planning events, integration activities, and readiness reviews.

Qualifications:
• 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.
• Active Top Secret/SCI with SAP elibility.
• 3+ years’ experience in systems engineering, mission operations, ground systems, satellite operations, or transition planning for aerospace or defense programs.
• 3+ years’ experience working with customers stakeholders in classified or high-consequence operational environments.

Preferred Additional Skills:
• Experience with Launch and Early Orbit/Operations (LEOP/LEOPS).
• Experience with satellite command and control, ground segment operations, or mission operations centers.
• Experience transitioning spacecraft or mission systems between operational environments, control centers, or ground segments.
• Familiarity with mission readiness review processes such as TMRR or equivalent operational readiness gates.
• Experience in Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) integration or transition activities.
• Experience supporting classified space operations programs.
• Knowledge of space vehicle lifecycle operations, on-orbit mission support, and ground segment interfaces.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in complex aerospace or defense transition efforts.
• Familiarity with customer communication and coordination in support of operational mission planning.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Florida is $110,500 - $205,500.00. 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 he]]> <