Systems Engineering Specialist
L3Harris · Clifton, NJ
- Level
- Engineer
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $93k–$172k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 1+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
An engineer-level manufacturing role at L3Harris (aerospace & defense) in Clifton, NJ. Troubleshoot, test, analyze, and document production and sustainment hardware issues inclusive of but not limited to the following.
- They ask for
- 1+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Root cause, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Base pay
- $93k–$172k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in New Jersey: typical posted base $100k–$172k. This one lists $93k–$172k.
Median of the low and high ends of 10 live postings that list pay, out of 56 manufacturing engineer openings in New Jersey, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
New Jersey plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 55 other live manufacturing postings in New Jersey.
- Base pay
- In line with similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (1+ vs 10+)
Typical $100k–$155k, from 9 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 75%
- Lean 73%
- Team leadership 71%
- 5S 64%
- Capacity planning 64%
- Time studies 61%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at L3Harris
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: L3Harris in Clifton
2 other open roles at this site.
- Sr Associate, Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
- Engineering Technician - Lab Custodian · Manufacturing
Full description from L3HarrisAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Essential Functions
- ◆Troubleshoot, test, analyze, and document production and sustainment hardware issues inclusive of but not limited to the following:
- ◆EW Systems
- ◆RF Receivers (Analog and Digital)
- ◆RF Transmitters
- ◆RF MCAs, Modules, Components, Cables
- ◆Digital CCAs, embedded processing hardware, FPGA-based assemblies
- ◆Antennas and Antenna Assemblies
- ◆Support troubleshooting and root cause investigations for production failures, test anomalies, yield issues, and returned hardware.
- ◆Support Test Station and Test Bench troubleshooting and repair.
- ◆Communication and collaboration across all engineering disciplines, operations, manufacturing, test, quality, supply chain, and program management teams.
- ◆Review engineering changes, part substitutions, deviations, waivers, and obsolescence impacts on digital CCA functionality, interfaces, and system performance.
- ◆Support configuration management,
requirements
traceability, and technical baseline control for released hardware.
- ✓Assist with nonconformance investigations, failure review boards, corrective actions, and reliability improvement initiatives.
- ✓Review production and test data to identify recurring defects, process issues, performance trends, and opportunities for yield improvement.
- ✓Support regression, verification, validation, and acceptance test activities.
- ✓Contribute to risk assessments, producibility improvements, and transition-to-sustainment activities.
- ✓Prepare technical documentation, issue summaries, status updates, and engineering recommendations supporting production and sustainment activities.
- ✓Minimum of 1 year working across cross-functional teams to resolve hardware or production-related issues.
- ✓Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- ✓Ability to lift to 20 lbs
- ✓Up to 10% travel, as required
- ✓Secret Clearance, with the ability to obtain higher levels
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
- ✓Active Secret Clearance required.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
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: : Electronic Warfare, Systems Engineering Specialist
Job Location: Clifton, NJ
Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off
Position Overview
The Systems Engineer, Specialist supports production and sustainment activities for complex RF and Digital electronic systems and their subcomponents. The position emphasizes system-level and subassembly-level support, including troubleshooting, test, failure analysis, configuration management, yield improvement, RCCA support, and coordination of engineering actions across the product lifecycle. The role requires communication and collaboration across all engineering disciplines, operations, manufacturing, test, quality, supply chain, and program management teams.
Preferred Additional Skills
- +Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, Mechanical, Aerospace, Systems Engineering.
- +Minimum of 3 years experience with the following:
- +Supporting complex RF and Digital electronic systems and their subcomponents.
- +Use of test equipment including RF Signal Generators, Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes
- +Ability to analyze technical drawings and specifications, including RF requirements, test specifications, schematics, and block diagrams
- +Understanding of systems engineering principles including requirements, interfaces, verification, configuration management, and problem resolution.
- +Ability to analyze technical data, document results, and support structured troubleshooting efforts.
- +Microsoft Office products including (Word, Excel, Power point, and One Note)
- +Experience in manufacturing support, product sustainment, failure analysis, or field support.
- +Background in aerospace, defense, communications, radar, or other mission-critical electronics environments.
- +Familiarity with production screening, acceptance test, qualification regression, and environmental test support.
- +Familiarity with component obsolescence, part substitutions, and configuration/change control processes.
- +Experience working with suppliers, PCB fabrication, CCA assembly, and manufacturing/test organizations.
- +Experience reviewing RF test data and assessing hardware performance trends.
- +Leadership of small technical teams
- +Experience with Cost Account Management and Earned Value methods
L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportu