Principal Operations Research Analyst

KBR Careers; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 158,000 - 178,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Medical insurance

Flexible spending account

Paid time off

Job summary

KBR Careers in Hawaii is seeking a Principal Operations Research Analyst to advance defense and national security programs. You will lead mission-level analytical studies, design experiments, and develop reusable model components for senior decision-makers and technology developers.

The role requires deep expertise in simulation, MBSE, and frameworks like AFSIM, SAFE-SiM, or NGTS, with leadership experience and a strong team orientation to deliver high-impact, actionable insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or related STEM discipline with 10+ years of relevant experience
• Strong knowledge of simulation analysis and experiment design & analysis techniques
• High level of proficiency in R, MATLAB, Python, JupyterLab and/or Jupyter Notebook
• High level of proficiency in at least one mission-level combat modeling & simulation framework such as AFSIM, SAFE-SiM, or NGTS
• Demonstrated technical leadership or study lead experience
• Competent understanding of MBSE diagrams and techniques
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a small, high-performance team environment
• Strong collaborative skills with experience working in expert-driven, multidisciplinary teams

Responsibilities

• Lead or support the conduct of mission-level analytical studies for operational- and senior-level military decision makers, technology developers, and acquisition professionals for use in CONOPS development, force structure design, resource allocation, and targeted technology insertion
• Design experiments, define metrics, and analyze simulation outputs to produce actionable insights
• Conduct pre- and post-simulation analyses as needed
• Collaborate directly with military operations subject matter experts, planners, and distributed teams to develop and refine trustworthy, scalable models, behaviors, and scenarios
• Develop reusable model components and behaviors and maintain clear technical documentation
• Produce high-impact deliverables (briefings, visualizations, reports) for senior DoW stakeholders
• Work independently in a forward environment while coordinating with a reach-back team in the NCR

Skills

Operations Research

Simulation analysis

Python

R

MATLAB

MBSE

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

AFSIM

SAFE-SiM

NGTS

Jupyter Notebook

JupyterLab

MATLAB

Job description

Principal Operations Research Analyst

KBR’s National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and national security communities. In this position, your work will have a profound impact on the country’s most critical role – protecting our national security.

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 Joint and multi-domain operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or support the conduct of mission-level analytical studies for operational- and senior-level military decision makers, technology developers, and acquisition professionals for use in CONOPS development, force structure design, resource allocation, and targeted technology insertion.
• Design experiments, define metrics, and analyze simulation outputs to produce actionable insights.
• Conduct pre- and post-simulation analyses as needed.
• Collaborate directly with military operations subject matter experts, planners, and distributed teams to develop and refine trustworthy, scalable models, behaviors, and scenarios.
• Develop reusable model components and behaviors and maintain clear technical documentation.
• Produce high-impact deliverables (briefings, visualizations, reports) for senior DoW stakeholders.
• Work independently in a forward environment while coordinating with a reach-back team in the NCR.

Work Environment

• Location: On-site in Hawaii, supporting a mission-critical USPACOM environment
• Travel Requirements: Minimal 0-20%, supporting strong work-life balance
• Working Hours: Standard

Standard Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or related STEM discipline with 10+ years of relevant experience
• Strong knowledge of simulation analysis and experiment design & analysis techniques
• High level of proficiency in R, MATLAB, Python, JupyterLab and/or Jupyter Notebook
• High level of proficiency in at least one mission-level combat modeling & simulation framework such as AFSIM, SAFE-SiM, or NGTS
• Demonstrated technical leadership or study lead experience
• Competent understanding of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) diagrams and techniques
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a small, high-performance team environment
• Strong collaborative skills with experience working in expert-driven, multidisciplinary teams

• Desired:
• Master’s degree in Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, or related STEM discipline with 12+ years of relevant experience
• Expert level of proficiency in R, MATLAB, Python, JupyterLab and/or Jupyter Notebook
• Expert level of proficiency in at least one mission-level combat modeling & simulation frameworks such as AFSIM, SAFE-SiM, or NGTS
• High level of proficiency in developing and employing MBSE diagrams and techniques

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40hrs

Basic Compensation: The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity. Compensation for Hawaii is $158,000-$178,000.

Additional Compensation: KBR may offer bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation to certain job titles or levels, per internal policy or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be in the form of sign on bonus, relocation benefits, short term incentives, long term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

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, 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.

KBR — Delivering Solutions, Changing the World.

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.