Manager Software Engineering

L3Harris 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 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

Manager, Software Engineering

Job Number

41101

Job Location

Nashville, TN

Schedule

9/80 - Every other Friday off

Role Status

Role is contingent upon program award

Job Description

The Software Engineering Manager (EM) at L3Harris ForceX is a pivotal role that combines strategic leadership with hands‑on technical expertise to lead a cross‑functional engineering team. The EM is responsible for managing a team of approximately 15 engineers, ensuring the successful delivery of products, programs, and engineering initiatives. This role involves recruiting and developing high‑quality talent, maintaining high technical standards, and ensuring projects are staffed and executed within budget constraints. The EM will track project health using lifecycle tools, review work products, and provide regular performance feedback.

Essential Functions

In addition to leadership responsibilities, the EM is expected to be a working manager, contributing directly to engineering tasks and projects alongside the team. This includes, but is not limited to, hands‑on involvement in software development, testing, and problem‑solving to ensure technical standards are met and maintained.

Key Responsibilities

• Advanced knowledge of relevant technologies and software development methodologies.
• Ability to implement short‑ and long‑term strategic engineering initiatives to ensure organizational goals are met.
• Expert ability to use judgment and logic in decision‑making, considering relative costs and benefits of potential actions.
• Proficiency in identifying, managing, and mitigating risks.
• Capability to ensure technical standards are met across multiple engineering functions.
• Ability to contribute directly to engineering tasks and projects as a working manager.
• Experience with lifecycle tool chains such as Digital.ai Agility, SpiraTest, Jama, and others.
• Proven leadership experience in managing and guiding engineering teams.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with tactical execution.
• Skills in developing growth plans, talent development, and succession planning.
• Experience in performance assessment and providing constructive feedback.
• Demonstrated ability to engage employees to promote a spirit of teamwork and cooperation within the team and organization.
• Ability to manage a team of engineers, typically around 15 direct reports.
• Ability to track program/project health using lifecycle tool chains.
• Ability to review work products of cross‑functional teams and ensure high‑quality standards are set and maintained.
• Ability to ensure program/project is appropriately staffed within budget constraints and ensure all team members are effectively onboarded and trained.
• Skills in identifying skills and knowledge gaps, developing training and development plans, and ensuring team members have training and development opportunities.
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with peers, stakeholders, leaders, and direct reports.
• Capability to develop a high‑performing team by aligning team efforts to business goals, setting and holding to high performance standards, and engaging employees through coaching and mentoring.
• Ability to provide regular formal and informal performance feedback to direct reports.
• Strong decision‑making skills and the ability to lead through conflict and challenge, developing trust across the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or other relevant degree and a minimum of 9 years relevant work experience. Graduate degree with a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Security Clearance.
• 3 years of experience in a formal management role leading diverse groups of technical resources.
• 7 years of experience in engineering roles with a focus on leadership and management.
• 7 years of experience with recruiting, sourcing, interviewing, and hiring high‑quality talent.
• 7 years of experience leading high‑performing engineering teams.
• 7 years of experience in Agile process and principles supporting iterative design, development, and test.
• 7 years of experience in software development and test principles, practices, and processes.
• 7 years of experience in working with both existing and emerging technologies.
• Advanced knowledge of relevant technologies and software development methodologies.
• 7 years of experience with lifecycle tool chains such as Digital.ai Agility, SpiraTest, Jama, and others.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong collaboration skills to work across functional and cross‑functional teams.
• Effective communication skills to work with team members on technical issues and find creative solutions.
• Experience working with Department of Defense customers and solutions, including Counter‑Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C‑UAS).
• Ability to adapt quickly to emerging technologies and seek ways to use new technology to gain efficiency.
• Ability to understand complex problems in an integrated system of systems environment.
• Working knowledge of digital tools such as Agility, SpiraTest tools, and Visual Studio.
• Ability to obtain a security clearance, minimum SECRET.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

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 and maintain 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. L3Harris Technologies is an E‑Verify Employer. For information regarding your Right To Work, please contact L3Harris for your Right To Work information.