Principal Modeling & Simulation Software Engineer

KBR, Inc.; Virginia; On-site; USD 160,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Space Systems Engineer to lead system-wide management of spacecraft programs, spanning conceptualization, design, development, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, operations, and documentation.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, 15+ years in aerospace, and at least 5 years in program management. A Secret clearance is required; work hours are 0600-1430 with travel up to 10%.

Qualifications

• Active Secret security clearance at time of application or contract requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of professional aerospace experience.
• 5+ years of system-wide spacecraft program management experience.
• Experience leading management or systems engineering for space-flight hardware.
• Work hours: 0600-1430 with overtime as needed.
• Travel 5-10% of the time.
• Working hours: Standard.

Responsibilities

• Provide system-wide management of spacecraft programs from conceptualization to documentation.
• Lead systems engineering for development, integration, operation, and maintenance of space mission hardware.
• Develop and coordinate aerospace system specifications, interfaces, requirements, and verification procedures.
• Manage mission operations, readiness, anomaly response, and reporting.

Skills

Systems engineering

Project management

Leadership

Aerospace domain knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering/math

Job description

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.

The Space Systems Engineer serves as a critical position responsible for the system-wide management and technical execution of complex spacecraft programs. The position provides leadership across spacecraft conceptualization, design, development, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, operations, demonstration, and technical documentation. The engineer directs management and systems engineering activities supporting space-flight hardware development, maintenance, mission operations, and real-time experimental spacecraft. The role applies project management and systems engineering methods to control technical baselines, schedules, interfaces, risks, mission data, and program deliverables. The Space Systems Engineer coordinates with government customers, engineering organizations, launch providers, operations centers, and mission stakeholders to ensure spacecraft systems are prepared for launch, demonstration, and sustained mission operations.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Provide system-wide management of spacecraft programs spanning conceptualization, requirements definition, design, development, manufacturing, integration, test, launch, operations, demonstration, sustainment, and documentation.
• Lead management and systems engineering activities for the development, integration, operation, and maintenance of space mission hardware and associated ground-system capabilities.
• Direct the development, writing, editing, coordination, and configuration control of aerospace system specifications, interface control documents, requirements documentation, verification procedures, and system-level technical documentation.
• Manage mission operations and demonstration activities for real-time experimental spacecraft, including coordination of mission readiness, command-and-control, anomaly response, performance monitoring, and operational reporting.
• Plan and manage the use of government launch, operational, and mission facilities, at varied locations.
• Lead project planning, scheduling, resource coordination, milestone management, and technical reviews supporting aerospace system development, production, integration, launch, and operations.
• Manage the collection, processing, reduction, analysis, interpretation, and documentation of aerospace scientific and engineering data.
• Coordinate spacecraft hardware, software, payload, ground-system, communications, launch, and mission-operations activities across government organizations, contractors, engineering teams, and operating locations.
• Lead technical reviews and mission-readiness activities, including System Requirements Reviews, Preliminary Design Reviews, Critical Design Reviews, Test Readiness Reviews, Flight Readiness Reviews, and Operational Readiness Reviews.
• Produce and maintain technical presentations, program schedules, engineering analyses, mission products, management briefings, and system-level documentation using standard computer applications and engineering-management tools.

Basic Qualifications

• Active Secret security clearance at the time of application or prior to the date required by the contract.
• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience supporting aerospace systems, including spacecraft, launch, mission, ground, or related complex aerospace capabilities.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience providing system-wide management of spacecraft programs, including experience across conceptualization, design, development, manufacturing, test, launch, operations, demonstration, and documentation.
• Demonstrated experience leading management or systems engineering activities for space-flight hardware development, integration, operations, or maintenance.
• Work hours: 0600-1430, with some overtime, based on mission needs
• Travel Requirements: 5-10%
• Working Hours: Standard

Basic Compensation

$160,000 - $202,000 USD annually

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

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.

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.