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Contract Weapons Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Contract Weapons Engineer information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$37.5K

$114.3K

$188.9K

How much do contract weapons engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract weapons engineer in Rochester, NY is $114,320.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,900.00 and $149,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Contract Weapons Engineers?

Contract Weapons Engineers are specialized professionals who design, develop, and test weapons systems, typically on a contractual basis for defense organizations, private defense contractors, or government agencies. Unlike full-time employees, they work on specific projects or for a set duration, providing technical expertise in areas such as ballistics, explosives, and system integration. Their responsibilities can include ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, troubleshooting existing systems, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver effective solutions. Due to the sensitive nature of their work, they often require security clearances and must adhere to strict confidentiality agreements.

What is the difference between Contract Weapons Engineer vs Contract Mechanical Engineer?

AspectContract Weapons EngineerContract Mechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, security clearances, specialized weapons certificationsBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentDefense contractors, government facilities, labsManufacturing plants, design firms, industrial settings
Employer & Industry UsageDefense, aerospace, military contractorsManufacturing, automotive, aerospace industries
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Contract Weapons Engineer primarily focuses on designing, testing, and maintaining weapon systems within defense and aerospace sectors, often requiring security clearances. In contrast, Contract Mechanical Engineers work on a broader range of mechanical systems across various industries. While both roles involve engineering expertise, the Contract Weapons Engineer specializes in defense-related projects with specific certifications and security requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Weapons Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Weapons Engineer, you typically need a degree in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering, along with experience in weapons systems design and development. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, and knowledge of defense industry regulations or relevant security clearances are usually required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure safe, innovative, and compliant weapons systems that meet client and regulatory standards.

What are some common challenges faced by Contract Weapons Engineers in adapting to new projects and teams?

Contract Weapons Engineers often transition between different projects and organizations, which can present unique challenges such as quickly adapting to varying technical requirements and work cultures. They must efficiently learn new systems, comply with diverse safety and regulatory standards, and rapidly build relationships with multidisciplinary team members, including designers, project managers, and compliance officers. Success in this role requires strong adaptability, proactive communication, and a thorough understanding of both the client's expectations and industry best practices.
What are popular job titles related to Contract Weapons Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY? For Contract Weapons Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Weapons Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Weapons Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY are:
What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Contract Weapons Engineer jobs? Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Contract Weapons Engineer job openings:

Technical Manager - Systems Engineering

L3HHCM20

Rochester, NY

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Technical Manager - Systems Engineering
Job Code: 38532
Job Location: Rochester, New York
Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)
Job Description:  
The Technical Manager - Systems Engineering provides technical and organizational leadership for the development, integration, and delivery of complex defense and aerospace systems. This role leads systems engineering activities across the full system lifecycle, from concept development and requirements definition through integration, verification, validation, production transition, and sustainment support. The position is responsible for managing teams supporting mission-critical programs while ensuring alignment with customer needs, contractual obligations, airworthiness or mission assurance expectations, and organizational objectives.
The ideal candidate brings strong people leadership, deep systems thinking, and demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering efforts in a highly regulated defense or aerospace environment.

Essential Functions:
   Lead, mentor, and develop a team of systems engineers supporting defense and aerospace programs, platforms, or technology initiatives.
   Direct systems engineering execution across the program lifecycle, including concept of operations, requirements analysis, system architecture, interface definition, integration, verification, validation, and operational support.
   Ensure technical execution aligns with customer requirements, program cost and schedule constraints, mission performance objectives, and contract deliverables.
   Oversee development and maintenance of system requirements, interface control documentation, verification traceability, and technical baselines.
   Contribute directly to program performance leveraging technical expertise and experience to system architecture, design, implementation, test, integration and sustainment. 
   Lead root cause corrective action investigations, provides independent review team perspective, participate in non-advocate reviews. 
   Lead technical planning, risk management, trade studies, design decision support, and system-level problem resolution.
   Support major program reviews and customer reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, PRR, and related milestone events.
   Collaborate with program management, chief engineers, software, hardware, test, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and field support teams to ensure integrated program execution.
   Drive compliance with defense, aerospace, safety, quality, airworthiness, cybersecurity, and mission assurance requirements, as applicable.
   Manage staffing, workload planning, performance management, employee development, and succession planning within the systems engineering organization.
   Provide technical leadership for integration and test planning, requirements verification, anomaly resolution, and qualification activities.
   Support proposal efforts, technical volume development, basis of estimate preparation, technology roadmaps, and capture activities for new business opportunities.
   Identify and mitigate technical, programmatic, and integration risks across complex system-of-systems environments.
   Promote continuous improvement in systems engineering processes, digital engineering practices, MBSE adoption, and technical rigor.
   Serve as a key interface to customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and senior leadership on program status, technical issues, and strategic engineering matters.

Qualifications:
   Bachelor's Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
   9+ years of progressive engineering experience, including significant systems engineering experience in defense, aerospace, avionics, mission systems, C4ISR, weapons, space, radar, communications, or other complex regulated environments.
   5+ years of leadership experience managing technical teams, engineering organizations, or major engineering work scopes.
   Ability to obtain and a secret security clearance

Preferred Additional Skills:
   Master's degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related discipline.
   Active security clearance.
   Experience supporting airborne, space, maritime, ground, or integrated mission systems programs.
   Familiarity with model-based systems engineering tools and methods.
   Experience with requirements and lifecycle management tools such as DOORS or similar platforms.
   Knowledge of digital engineering, simulation, system modeling, and mission-level analysis approaches.
   Experience with military standards, aerospace standards, mission assurance practices, and airworthiness or certification processes, as applicable.
   INCOSE certification, PMP certification, or other relevant engineering leadership credentials.
   Experience supporting competitive captures, proposal strategy, technical solution development, and customer briefings.
   Understanding of cybersecurity, system safety, reliability, maintainability, and human systems integration considerations in defense systems.
   Demonstrated success leading teams through complex integration, test, and fielding activities.
   Ability to balance strategic technical leadership with day-to-day execution in a fast-paced, high-consequence environment.
   Demonstrated experience applying systems engineering processes across the full lifecycle of complex aerospace or defense systems.
   Experience with requirements decomposition, functional analysis, architecture development, interface management, integration, verification, validation, and configuration control.
   Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams in a matrixed program environment.
   Strong knowledge of DoD, aerospace, or other regulated development frameworks, technical review processes, and program execution disciplines.
   Experience with technical risk management, failure analysis, root cause investigation, and corrective action planning.
   Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with customers, program leadership, and executive stakeholders.
   Familiarity with classified or export-controlled environments and the ability to work within those constraints.

 
In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in New York is $110,500 - $205,500.  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, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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