Last month L3 and Harris announced merger plans that will create the sixth largest defense contractor and renew the company’s status as a major player in the military electronics, communication and ISR space. Together, the firms will have 48,000 employees across the globe and an expected revenue of $16 billion in 2018.
Leaders in the two companies note the next two years will be all about integration. The good news? There is a natural synergy between the work of the two companies.
“L3 Harris Technologies will possess a wealth of technologies and a talented and engaged workforce,” L3 chief executive Chris Kubasik said in a press release announcing the merger. “By unleashing this potential, we will strengthen our core franchises, expand into new and adjacent markets and enhance our global presence.”
If you’re a cleared job seeker, the new L3 Harris Technologies may be an ideal employer to consider if you’re looking for a job today. Why? The merger is designed to advance the growth of the companies – they’ll be competing, and winning new contracts – and they’ll need the best talent to do it. If you can fill a role today, there is a good chance you’ll be able to find a new contract opportunity in the months and years ahead, as the new L3 Harris Technologies competes to win.
Bigger Company = More Prime Contracting Opportunities
One key advantage of the merger for L3 Harris Technologies is new opportunities for the company as a prime contractor. What’s the difference between being a prime and being a subcontractor? The differences may seem negligible to most cleared professionals, but it’s typical for the prime contractor to have a more defined leadership team on the contract, as well as more senior professionals working those roles. That’s not to say there aren’t benefits to being a subcontractor, as well. But if you’re looking for leadership opportunities and the chance to grow within a particular contract, it pays to be the prime. L3 Harris Technologies plans to use its new size to be an even more aggressive player when competing for prime contracts.
A robust portfolio
The merger of of L3 and Harris is a marriage bound by military communications, but the service portfolios of both companies extend far beyond the DoD space. The new L3 Harris Technologies will have customers ranging from the Department of Homeland Security and FAA to hospitals and commercial aircraft providers, the combined L3-Harris portfolio is extensive. That commercial/defense crossover is good for the company’s bottom line, but also good for employees. The ability to pursue opportunities in both spaces helps companies stay on top even when defense budgets go down.
More Transparency
As an employee, you may fear that a merger will create a season of uncertainty and lack of communication. While some uncertainty and change should be expected, the amount of information you receive can actually increase during a company merger. L3 Harris Technologies has been proactive in providing information about what employees and stockholders should expect during the transition, including what leadership will look like, where headquarters will be located, and other changes. Good companies know that keeping their best employees engaged is essential to making a merger work – and they know providing information is one of the key ways of ensuring buy-in from existing talent.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to be excited about the new L3 Harris Technologies is the expanding portfolio of projects the company is anticipated to explore. From undersea drones to new GPS technologies, a bigger, dynamic L3 Harris Technologies is poised to compete and ready to win.
“This transaction extends our position as a premier global defense technology company that unlocks additional growth opportunities and generates value for our customers, employees and shareholders,” said Harris Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, William M. Brown, in a release following the merger announcement. “Combining our complementary franchises and extensive technology portfolios will enable us to accelerate innovation to better serve our customers, deliver significant operating synergies and produce strong free cash flow, which we will deploy to drive shareholder value.”
