Ground Systems Engineer

KBR Careers; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Medical, Dental, Vision

Career development

Job summary

KBR National Security Solutions is seeking a Senior Ground Systems Engineer to join our Chantilly, Virginia team, supporting a major U.S. Government program for proliferated satellite constellations. You will deliver SETA support focused on the ground segment, including mission operations, C2, data processing, and user interfaces.

This role requires strong systems engineering with MBSE, agile practices, and cloud solutions, and requires U.S. citizenship with active TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizen with TS/SCI clearance (with current polygraph).
• 8+ years of satellite ground system development, integration, and test experience.
• Knowledge of Government space/ground domain missions and capabilities.
• Experience with lifecycle, requirements, architectures, interfaces, validation and verification.

Responsibilities

• Advise Government on planning, engineering, integration, and O&M of ground systems.
• Document system architectures and impacts of updates and deliveries.
• Define requirements, architectures, and trade studies for spacecraft ground systems.
• Interface with spacecraft, payload, network and user teams to manage end-to-end interfaces.

Skills

Satellite Ground Systems

Systems Engineering

Model-Based Systems Engineering

Agile / DevSecOps

Cloud Technologies

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Science or related STEM

Master’s or PhD preferred

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Python

SysML

Job description

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

Title

Ground Systems Engineer

Why Join Us?

• Innovative Projects: KBR’s work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions.
• Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that thrives on collaboration and innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace.
• Impactful Work: Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense.

Position Summary

KBR National Security Solutions is seeking a motivated and talented Senior Ground Systems Engineer to join our team in Chantilly, Virginia and to support a major U.S. Government organization responsible for the acquisition, integration, and operation of proliferated satellite constellations. The selected candidate for this position will provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support focused on the satellite ground segment, including mission operations, command and control, data processing, dissemination, and user interfaces. The candidate will work as part of an integrated Government and contractor team delivering resilient, scalable space capabilities in support of national security missions

Responsibilities

• Advise and assist the Government with the planning, engineering, integration, and O&M activities of ground systems.
• Analyze and document site system architecture and impacts associated with system updates and deliveries.
• Support requirements definition, architecture development, and trade studies for spacecraft ground systems.
• Interface with spacecraft, payload, network, and user segment teams to define and manage end-to-end system interfaces.
• Support integration and test (I&T) planning and execution across ground and space segments.
• Evaluate contractor designs, test results, and operational concepts for compliance with mission requirements.
• Assist in operational readiness activities, including rehearsals, exercises, and transition to sustainment.
• Contribute to system documentation, reviews, and decision briefings for Government leadership.
• Collaborate with Headquarters Directorates, site organizations, and mission partners to ensure understanding of project requirements and risks (cost, schedule, and technical).
• Document, develop and deliver analyses, recommendations, plans, reports, and briefings to the Government.
• Support the development and integration of automated test solutions and continuous improvement in software design and architecture.

Work Environment

• Location: On-Site
• Travel Requirements: Minimal (less than 25%) travel to contractor facilities, test sites, or launch locations.
• Working Hours: Flexible. Standard Government work hour support and surge support during integration and launch phases.

Required Qualifications

• Citizenship: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance (with current polygraph).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data analytics, or a related STEM technical discipline. Specific contract requirements regarding education and experience will prevail.
• Relevant Experience: Demonstrated 8+ years of experience supporting satellite ground system development, integration, and test.
• Knowledge of Government customer’s space and ground domain mission and technical capabilities.
• Systems engineering background; understanding of systems development life cycle from concept, requirements, engineering design, integration and test, deployment, maintenance, through decommissioning.
• Experience in requirements definition, system architectures, systems analysis and design, interface and data architectures, validation, and verification.
• Ability to take initiative, proactively address customer requirements with no supervision, and expertly define solutions for broad, abstract topics.
• Familiarity with model-based systems engineering and digital engineering concepts and tools, Agile / DevSecOps development methodology, and cloud technologies.
• Ability to work with standard business management tools and financial systems, MS Office, and project management software.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain trusted client relationships.
• Knowledge of U.S. Government contracting and federal acquisition regulations, spacecraft lifecycle milestones and review processes, and success in operating within this environment.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate technical issues clearly to all levels of Government leadership.

Desired Qualifications

• Education: Master’s or Ph.D. degree in a related STEM technical discipline.
• Relevant Ground Experience: Demonstrated 10+ years of experience supporting ground system development, integration, and test is preferred.
• Breadth of Experience: Experience working across multiple satellite ground programs or production lines is preferred.
• Experience in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling DoD or Intelligence Community projects or programs.
• Deep knowledge of satellite Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED) architectures.
• Demonstrated experience in defining, developing, configuration managing, auditing and verifying large-scale ground system architectures.
• Familiarity with JIRA and Confluence.
• Familiarity with modeling languages such as Python, SysML, and UAFML.
• Experience with cloud-based technologies and automation to optimize platform performance and reliability.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re excited about making a significant impact in the field of space defense and working on projects that matter, we encourage you to apply and join our team at KBR. Let's shape the future 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.

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.

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 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.

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