Sr. Associate, Software Engineer

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: Senior Associate Software Engineer, Space Surveillance Telescope

Job Code: 41001

Job Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Job Schedule: 9/80 schedule (Every Other Friday Off)

Job Description:

The Senior Associate Software Engineer, Space Surveillance Telescope, is a hands-on individual contributor supporting mission software development for a space-surveillance program. SST supports tracking resident space objects and broader Space Domain Awareness mission needs. Using practical experience in backend and systems-oriented software development, the role designs, implements, tests, and integrates software that supports mission data processing, orbit and track-related workflows, and operational mission functions. The position emphasizes C++ and Java development in Linux and other backend environments, with close collaboration across systems engineering, integration and test, cybersecurity, and operations.

Essential Functions

• Design, implement, test, debug, integrate, and maintain mission software and supporting backend services for SST.
• Develop software in C++ and Java for mission data ingest, processing, messaging, and orbit or track-related workflows.
• Support track and orbit processing activities, including propagation, data-product generation, troubleshooting, and performance analysis in lab environments.
• Collaborate across systems engineering, integration and test, cybersecurity, and operations to close interfaces, resolve defects, and sustain mission capability.
• Contribute to automated test, CI/CD, secure software delivery, configuration management, and disciplined release practices for mission software.

Qualifications

• Requires practical knowledge of software engineering within the assigned job area.
• Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience, or Graduate Degree or equivalent with 0 to 2 years of prior related experience, or in lieu of a degree, minimum of 4 years of prior related experience.
• Active Secret security clearance required.
• Experience with software development, debugging, integration, and test in Linux, backend, or systems-oriented environments.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Proficiency in C++ and Java for backend, mission-processing, or other systems-oriented software.
• Familiarity with Space Domain Awareness mission workflows, mission data products, or resident-space-object tracking concepts.
• Experience with orbital mechanics fundamentals, track propagation, or SGP4-based workflows.
• Experience with Linux-based backend or distributed-system software development.
• Exposure to CI/CD, DevSecOps, automated build and test pipelines, or secure software delivery practices.
• Experience with software integration, formal test, troubleshooting, and defect resolution in mission or sensor-system environments.
• Experience with data-processing pipelines, messaging interfaces, or mission-data handling workflows.
• Experience tuning or troubleshooting performance, throughput, latency, or resource usage in operational software.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in Colorado state is $74,500-$138,500. 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