R&D Systems Engineer

KBR Careers; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 153,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR is seeking an innovative R&D Systems Engineer to support US Government satellite ground systems in Chantilly, VA. The role focuses on SETA support, end-to-end lifecycle involvement, and integration of AI/ML with data processing workflows.

The ideal candidate has a TS/SCI clearance, a relevant degree, and 5+ years of experience (or 3+ with a Master’s). On-site work, minimal travel, and opportunities to collaborate with external partners are offered.

Qualifications

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s with 3+ years, or PhD with 0+ years.
• Experience in satellite ground system architecture, operations, and inference pipelines.
• Proficiency in Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, and multi-modal LLMs.
• Strong analytical thinking and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Technical analysis of ground system concepts, architectures, and emerging technologies.
• Review and contribute to design, modeling, and analysis for orchestration, scheduling, and data processing.
• Evaluate and optimize data processing workflows including ML/AI integration and quantization methods.
• Provide lifecycle support from concept to transition to mission operations.
• Develop pipelines using llama.cpp, vLL, and Ollama.

Skills

Python

PyTorch/TensorFlow

LLMs

MS Office

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 5+ years

Master’s degree + 3+ years

PhD + 0+ years

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Title: R&D Systems Engineer KBR is seeking an innovative R&D Systems Engineer to join our team, providing critical technical services to the U.S. Government (USG). This role supports a dedicated USG Program Office focused on pioneering the next generation of national security space systems. You will provide Systems Engineering & Technical Advisory (SETA) support, concentrating on the research and development of revolutionary ground systems that command, control, and process data from advanced satellite constellations.

Position Overview As an R&D Systems Engineer, you will bridge the gap between legacy ground capabilities and emerging technologies. In addition to guiding the full lifecycle of cutting-edge satellite edge-computing, processing and ground systems, you will actively scout industry trends and curate collaborative partnerships with external tech groups, contractors, and internal research teams to introduce disruptive automation and data orchestration capabilities to the mission.

Responsibilities

As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for the full lifecycle of cutting-edge satellite edge-computing and ground systems, with an emphasis on automation, processing, and orchestration. Your duties will include:

• Technical Analysis: Conduct in-depth technical analysis and review of ground system concepts, architectures, and emerging technologies.
• Review & Processing: Review and contribute to design, modeling, and analysis for orchestration, task scheduling, and high-throughput data processing.
• Evaluation & Optimization: Evaluate and optimize data processing workflows, from initial satellite downlink and data ingestion to final dissemination. Assess the integration of machine learning and AI technologies to enhance data exploitation and automate ground system functions. Implement quantization methods (GGUF, AWQ, EXL2) to enable high-performance model execution on local hardware and resource constraint environments.
• Lifecycle Support: Provide technical and programmatic expertise throughout the entire project lifecycle. This includes concept development, system definition, acquisition planning, design, development, integration and test (I&T), and transition to mission operations. Identify bottlenecks needed to make systems meet requirements.
• Cost & Trade Analysis: Perform analysis of alternatives to optimize system performance, cost, and schedule for next-generation system designs including the development of pipelines using frameworks such as llama.cpp, vLL, and/or Ollama.
• Innovation & Collaboration: Actively participate in an enterprise-wide R&D environment, contributing to and leveraging shared knowledge to advance organizational capabilities in satellite ground systems.
• Technology Scouting & Curation: Actively scout, vet, and curate state-of-the-art technologies and research organizations. Formulate recommendations for bringing in academic, commercial, or specialized contractor groups to design and scale operational capabilities.

Work Environment Location: On-Site (Chantilly, VA area) Travel Requirements: Minimal (0-20%) Working Hours: Standard

Required Qualifications

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience, Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or PhD with 0+ years of relevant experience.
• Domain Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in satellite ground system architecture, operations, and inference pipelines.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, and multi-modal LLMs.
• Analytical Skills: Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical capabilities.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for preparing written reports, leading group discussions, and delivering oral presentations to senior government stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications

• Ground Systems Engineering: In-depth knowledge of systems engineering and integration as applied to satellite ground networks, command and control systems, and data processing pipelines.
• Communications & Data: Experience with space-to-ground communications links, data routing, and processing of overhead sensor data (e.g., SIGINT, GEOINT).
• Automation & AI/ML: Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies, quantization, hardware and system performance monitoring, and/or data analysis.
• Vendor & Acquisition Support: Experience evaluating third-party vendor offerings, contributing to requests for proposals (RFPs), or managing technical interfaces with external contractors.

Basic Compensation

Basic Compensation: $152,600 - $190,700 This range is for the Virginia area only The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's work location, knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience, clearance level, contract affordability and in consideration of internal parity.

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 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.