The L3Harris Fellow – Encryption is a senior technical authority responsible for shaping the company’s strategy, architecture, and innovation in cryptographic systems and appliances, with emphasis on defense, national security, and high-assurance encryption solutions for the protection of US Government classified data. This role provides enterprise leadership in the definition, development and application of advanced encryption technologies that protect classified mission-critical communications, data, platforms, and networks operating in highly-contested environments.

The Fellow serves as a recognized expert in secure communications and cryptographic system design, guiding the technical direction of programs, influencing investment priorities, supporting customer engagement, and ensuring alignment with national security requirements, certification expectations, and evolving threat environments.

Essential Functions:

Serve as the enterprise technical leader for high-assurance and mission-critical encryption technologies applied across diverse tactical and strategic applications.

Define and guide technical strategy for encryption solution architectures, secure communications, key management, and cryptographic modernization across defense and intelligence-focused programs.

Lead the design, assessment, certification and deployment of high-assurance cryptographic solutions for tactical radios, datalinks, embedded mission systems, open architectures, secure networks, space systems, airborne platforms, and multi-domain operations.

Provide deep technical expertise in:

Applied cryptographic systems

Government-approved cryptographic algorithms and implementations

COMSEC device architectures and key management

Embedded programmable encryption solutions

Secure boot, trusted execution, and hardware roots of trust

Cross-domain and interoperable secure communications

Anti-tamper and protection of critical program information

Crypto modernization and transition planning

Post-quantum cryptography and future secure architectures

Advise program teams on security architecture, cryptographic integration, technical risk, trade studies, and certification considerations.

Support business development and competitive business capture by shaping discriminating secure communications and encryption solutions for defense customers.

Partner with systems, software, hardware, programmable logic design, cybersecurity, and mission assurance teams to ensure encryption capabilities are integrated effectively into complex platforms and product lines.

Guide technical approaches for interoperability, certification readiness, survivability, and lifecycle sustainment of encryption-enabled systems.

Conduct and lead independent technical reviews of encryption implementations, key management concepts, interface definitions, certification documentation, and secure communications architectures.

Mentor principal engineers, architects, and senior technical staff in the development of high-assurance cryptographic expertise across the enterprise.

Represent L3Harris as a trusted technical authority with customers, government stakeholders, industry standards bodies and internal executive leadership.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.

At least 25 years of experience in applied cryptography, secure communications, embedded security, and high-assurance cybersecurity engineering.

Active secrert clearance or higher required

Demonstrated technical leadership in the development of at least five Government-certified defense, intelligence, or national security products or systems requiring advanced encryption capabilities.

Deep understanding of:

Cryptographic algorithms and protocols

Secure key management and distribution

Embedded cryptographic architectures

Secure firmware and software implementation

Hardware/software co-design for encryption systems

Trusted computing and platform security

Government’s certification security requirements and processes

Experience with classified systems, mission assurance requirements, and secure system integration in complex program environments.

Proven ability to lead technical strategy, influence cross-functional engineering organizations, develop strong customer relationships, and engage effectively with senior leadership.

Strong record of technical contribution through major program impact, architecture leadership, IRAD development that impacted program success, patents, publications, or enterprise-wide innovation.

Preferred Additional Skills:

Master’s degree or PhD in relevant technical discipline.

Recognized expertise in high assurance encryption systems, Government-certified solutions, or high-assurance cryptographic implementations.

Experience with certification-driven development and engagement with government security stakeholders.

Knowledge of modernization of legacy COMSEC systems, secure interoperability approaches, and migration to next-generation cryptographic architectures.

Familiarity with TEMPEST, anti-tamper design, secure supply chain considerations, and protection of critical technologies.

Experience in post-quantum cryptography, zero trust for tactical environments, and secure communications in denied or contested environments.

Established reputation as a technical thought leader in defense encryption or secure communications.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C. area, Denver, or NYC areas is $158,500-$275,000. 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 health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays.