Human Performance Research Assistant (Physiologist)

KBR Careers; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

medical

dental

vision

life insurance

AD&D

flexible spending account

disability

paid time off

flexible work schedule

Career development

Job summary

KBR at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston is seeking an Exercise Physiology & Countermeasures Research Assistant to support human health, performance, and mission readiness through hands-on research and data collection.

You will coordinate studies, prepare IRB-ready documentation, maintain data‑acquisition systems, and collaborate with astronauts, clinicians, engineers, and researchers to advance countermeasure technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, or related field, plus ~5 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of graduate education and experience
• Experience conducting human health and performance research, including physiological monitoring and/or kinematic analysis
• U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency

Responsibilities

• Support project leads in implementing research activities outlined in EPC strategic roadmaps
• Coordinate human research studies and engineering evaluations, including scheduling, logistics, and integration with study teams and stakeholders
• Prepare study documentation such as IRB protocols, test plans, readiness review packages, and progress reports
• Design, implement, and maintain data‑acquisition systems for physiological and performance testing
• Perform equipment setup, calibration, troubleshooting, and monitoring during tests and evaluations
• Collect physiological and performance data during research studies, operational training, and analog missions
• Support validation of exercise countermeasure hardware, wearable sensors, and human-system interaction technologies
• Contribute to development of conditioning programs and performance protocols for crew health and mission readiness
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Complete all assigned training and perform other duties as required

Skills

Research coordination

Data collection

IRB protocols

Equipment setup

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, or related field

~5 years of relevant experience

Tools

MS Office

Data acquisition systems

Job description

Human Performance Research Assistant (Physiologist)

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 Exercise Physiology & Countermeasures Research Assistant at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX.

What You’ll Do

• Support project leads in implementing research activities outlined in EPC strategic roadmaps
• Coordinate human research studies and engineering evaluations, including scheduling, logistics, and integration with study teams and stakeholders
• Prepare study documentation such as IRB protocols, test plans, readiness review packages, and progress reports
• Design, implement, and maintain data‑acquisition systems for physiological and performance testing
• Perform equipment setup, calibration, troubleshooting, and monitoring during tests and evaluations
• Collect physiological and performance data during research studies, operational training, and analog missions
• Support validation of exercise countermeasure hardware, wearable sensors, and human-system interaction technologies
• Contribute to development of conditioning programs and performance protocols for crew health and mission readiness
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
• Complete all assigned training and perform other duties as required

What You Bring

You bring experience leading research and operational activities in human performance environments. You use your experience and judgment to coordinate complex studies, ensure data quality, maintain safety standards, and communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams including astronauts, clinicians, engineers, physiologists, and researchers. 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 physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, or related field, plus ~5 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of graduate education and experience
• Experience conducting human health and performance research, including physiological monitoring and/or kinematic analysis
• U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency

Desired

• Master’s degree in physiology, kinesiology, exercise science, or related field
• Experience evaluating hardware such as wearable sensors or health-related equipment
• Experience conducting operational studies of human performance or human-system interactions, especially in spaceflight or analog environments

Your Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple JSC directorates
• Ability to communicate effectively with human test subjects, astronauts, engineers, and clinical personnel
• Strong organizational skills and ability to support multiple concurrent projects
• Attention to detail and understanding of human-performance capabilities and interactions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard PC tools
• (Desired) Familiarity with NASA HHP, human spaceflight operations, exercise countermeasure systems, human-systems integration, spaceflight analogs, and NASA standards (e.g., NASA-STD-3001)

What to Expect

This position is expected to be 100% on site at NASA JSC. Occasional travel may be required.

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

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’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.

KBR brings together the best and brightest to deliver science, technology and engineering solutions that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most critical missions and objectives. In everything we do, we are guided by our ONE KBR Values: We Value Our People - We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential. We Deliver - We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology-led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We Are People of Integrity - We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business. We Empower - We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision-makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed. We Are a Team of Teams - We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company. We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals. Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.