Engineering Department Manager

Trinzic; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston seeks an Engineering Department Manager. This on-site leadership role oversees project execution, resources, and cross-functional teams within Human Factors, Project Engineering, Systems Engineering, and more.

Reporting to senior NASA stakeholders, you will mentor 200+ staff, coordinate budgets and schedules, and drive collaboration across divisions to meet mission milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field.
• Minimum 10 years progressive relevant technical, management, and leadership experience.
• Preferred 15 years of relevant experience and familiarity with NASA contracts and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead 200+ employees.
• Lead, mentor, and guide the Engineering Department managers and leaders.
• Coordinate, prioritize and allocate resources.
• Ensure projects are completed within budget and schedule.
• Identify strategies to exceed customer expectations and areas of collaboration.
• Perform administrative tasks associated with department leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Project monitoring

NASA contracts experience

Process improvement

Project management

Cross-organizational collaboration

Strategic oversight

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related engineering field

Job description

Title:

Engineering Department Manager

At KBR, we deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 85 countries and operations in over 28 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results.

Trinzic is the future independent company to be created through the planned spin-off of KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business, expected in January 2027. Our people work at the frontier of what is possible, delivering solutions in challenging environments and advancing some of the world's highest-priority national security and space missions.

Backed by decades of mission success, deep expertise, and trusted partnerships, Trinzic will launch as a global organization with more than 18,000 employees supporting customers around the world. Join us at a defining moment and help shape the future of a company built to tackle complex challenges and make a meaningful impact.

Candidates who join KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business before the spin-off will transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete and will not need to reapply for employment.

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

Around here, we define the future.

We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely. On the Human Health and Performance Contract we are at the forefront of safeguarding astronaut health, ensuring human performance, and advancing technologies for human space exploration. We are seeking an Engineering Department Manager at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX.

What You’ll Do:

In this role, you play a pivotal leadership role in the department’s project execution, resource allocation and support of team members to achieve our goals. The department’s disciplines include Human Factors and Habitability, Project Management, Project Engineering, Systems Engineering, Design and Fabrication, Hardware Testing, Sustaining Engineering and Integration, and Food Production.

You serve as the primary customer interface for the NASA Human Health and Performance Division Chief and NASA Engineering Directorate Division Chiefs. You provide strategic and technical oversight and serve as the KBR administrative manager for KBR managers within the department and for additional staff, as required. You will:

• Lead 200+ employees




• Lead, mentor, and guide the Engineering Department managers and leaders




• Coordinate, prioritize and allocate resources




• Ensure projects are completed within budget and schedule




• Identify strategies to exceed customer expectations and areas of collaboration




• Perform administrative tasks associated with department leadership

What You Bring:

You bring experience leading complex hardware projects and integrating with other organizations. You use your experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals, negotiate with other department managers to support integrated projects, ensure contract wide management policies and procedures are effectively implemented, and enable integration, collaboration, and innovation to exceed expectations. You will also identify corrective and preventive actions and drive those to closure, implement lessons learned and best practices, and participate in company and customer status reviews. You comply with KBR’s Safety, Health and Environmental Plan, Quality Plan, and all safety policies and procedures, and complete all assigned training.

Your Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field




• Minimum of 10 years progressive relevant technical, management, and leadership experience




• Preferred 15 years of relevant experience and familiarity with NASA contracts and processes

Your Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership qualities to inspire and build a culture of teamwork and quality




• Demonstrated project monitoring and control experience




• Understanding of NASA Flight Hardware development requirements and processes




• Familiarity with the identification and execution of process improvement initiatives




• Familiarity with project management practices and working with Business Office/Program Office on staffing and other financial challenges




• Participation with Corporate Entities including but not limited to Business Development on behalf of proposal development, contract collaboration, and strategic initiatives




• Demonstrated leadership experience on complex technical projects; ability to manage resources, priorities and customer communication




• Demonstrated experience making timely and effective decisions driving projects and personnel decisions forward in a positive manner




• Effective at handling multiple tasks, responding quickly to change, and being flexible




• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written




• Experience with difficult situations and personnel resulting in positive outcomes




• Ability to interact across organizations and all levels of personnel

What to Expect

This position is expected to be 100% on site and in person. Occasional travel may be required.

Why KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to an ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR Benefits

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Click here to learn more: KBR Benefits New | KBR (https://careers.kbr.com/us/en/kbr-benefits)

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBRAt KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.