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 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, however not limited to, hands-on involvement in software development, testing, and problem-solving to ensure technical standards are met and maintained.

Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills are essential, as the EM will build and maintain relationships with peers, stakeholders, and direct reports. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in engineering management, knowledge of Agile processes, and the ability to adapt to emerging technologies. A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field is required, with advanced degrees and relevant industry experience preferred. The ability to obtain a security clearance is also necessary.

• 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 mai