Ground Station System Engineer III

KBR Careers; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

AD&D

FSAs

Disability

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR in Sioux Falls, SD is seeking a Ground Station System Engineer III to join the USGS/EROS and NASA Landsat collaboration on a full-time, on-site basis. You will support RF ground station hardware, satellite communications systems, and systems engineering activities within a multi-disciplinary team.

Requires 4–6 years in Satellite Communications Engineering, a bachelor’s in EE or related field, and US Citizenship due to ITAR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Satellite Communications/Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 4–6 years of experience in Satellite Communications Engineering or equivalent is required; experience in satellite ground systems or LEO comms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provides hardware engineering support and maintenance for ground station RF equipment including procurement, deployment, troubleshooting and repair.
• Provides Satellite Communications systems engineering support to develop ground-based systems per mission requirements (antenna, RF equipment, ground station systems).
• Coordinate activities and status with Systems Engineers, Software Engineers, Operators and other project team members.
• Conduct systems engineering activities per the SE Management Plan (SEMP)
• Support decomposing operations concepts into detailed requirements and documenting interfaces
• Perform architecture and trade studies and execute integration testing
• Support remote partner location integration activities
• Ensure system activities follow standards and best practices
• Submit, analyze and manage configuration change requests per CM processes

Skills

Excellent interpersonal communication

Teamwork

RF equipment experience

Schematics reading

Anomaly investigations

Systems engineering lifecycle

Education

Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering

Satellite Communications/Systems Engineering

Job description

Ground Station System Engineer III

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.

Join us at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center and help shape the future of Earth science data systems. As part of our mission-driven team, you’ll contribute to projects that make a global impact, supporting research, innovation, and technology that empower scientists and decision-makers worldwide.

Position Overview

KBR is seeking a Mid-Level System Engineer in Sioux Falls, SD, to support the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. This is a full‑time, onsite role that requires regular in‑person interaction with team members, scientists, and mission partners. This team, in collaboration with NASA and the Landsat project, specializes in remote sensing and provides over fifty years of satellite imagery data to global users and science organizations.

Why You’ll Love This Role

• Work on meaningful projects that support Earth science and sustainability
• Collaborate with experienced engineers and mentors who are passionate about innovation
• Gain hands‑on experience with cutting‑edge technologies in Satellite Communications and system development
• Be part of a team that values curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning

Core Responsibilities

Candidates must have strong technical abilities, excellent communication skills, and a teamwork emphasis. Candidates must also be able to integrate into a highly‑skilled engineering team of diverse disciplines.

• Provides hardware engineering support and maintenance for all ground station radio frequency (RF) equipment. This includes supporting the procurement, deployment/integration, troubleshooting and repair of RF equipment.
• Provides Satellite Communications systems engineering support to develop ground based systems in accordance with mission requirements. This includes the antenna(s), RF equipment and all associated ground station equipment.
• Communicate and coordinate activities and technical status with the Systems Engineer, Software Engineers, Operators and other Project team members, as appropriate
• Conduct systems engineering activities in accordance with an established Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP)
• Support decomposing operations concepts into detailed requirements
• Support developing and implementing requirements
• Support defining and documenting interface definitions
• Conduct architecture and trade study analysis
• Execute formal integration testing and analysis
• Support the integration activities at remote partner locations
• Ensure all system activities are conducted in accordance with standards and best practices
• Submit, analyze, and manage configuration change requests in accordance with Configuration Management (CM) processes

Education & Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Satellite Communications/Systems Engineering, or related field.

Experience

Former job experience of 4-6 years in Satellite Communications Engineering or equivalent is required for this position. Experience in satellite ground systems or Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications is a plus.

Required Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Knowledge of the Systems Engineering and Project Life Cycle
• Experience in working with RF equipment including antenna, demodulators, receivers, upconverters, station controllers and basic diagnostic equipment such as spectrum analyzers.
• Experience in anomaly investigations or troubleshooting activities
• Ability to read and interpret schematics and wiring diagrams

Desired Skills

This internship is designed to help you learn. Prior experience in all skills is not expected.

• Requirements generation experience
• Integration and Test experience

Special Requirements

• US Citizenship is required due to ITAR requirements
• Three years of continuous residency in the U.S. for issuance of a Government Security credential
• Ability to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation for facility access

Experience and/or Education in lieu of these qualifications will be reviewed for applicability to meet these requirements.

KBR Benefits

• 401K plan with company match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• AD&D
• flexible spending account
• disability
• paid time off
• flexible work schedule

We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at 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, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our 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.

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