Senior Crypto Security Engineer

KBR Careers; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending account

Job summary

KBR’s National Security Solutions team seeks a Senior Crypto Security Engineer to advance cryptographic systems for space and ground segments in El Segundo, CA. You will influence mission-critical security architectures and lead detailed studies and verification efforts.

The role emphasizes cryptographic unit design, test planning, and collaboration with government customers and contractors in a fast-paced, on-site environment.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.
• 15+ years of systems engineering experience, including crypto, cyber, requirements, verification, and test.
• 10+ years in crypto, NSA certification processes, and Key Management.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in development, integration, and delivery of space and ground cryptographic units.
• Lead spacecraft cryptographic unit trade studies and deliver data-driven recommendations.
• Oversee design, interfaces, development, and delivery of encryption units with ground system integration.
• Manage crypto lifecycle, priorities, and dependencies within program schedules.
• Support PKMA secure key management and security architecture alignment.
• Lead and mentor engineers from junior to mid-level levels.

Skills

Cryptography expertise

Technical leadership

Clear communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Microsoft Office

Job description

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

Senior Crypto Security Engineer

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.

KBR is seeking a motivated and experienced Cryptography Subject Matter Expert to join our team in El Segundo, CA.

The MSEIT effort provides leading-edge Systems Engineering & Integration (SE&I) for the United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). We acquire state-of-the-art Military and Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM) systems, providing global, secure, survivable, and protected communications for our nation’s warfighters. We seek technical individuals who will thrive in a highly collaborative work environment of small teams, using the most modern tools and methodologies to tackle the challenges of integrating complex space and ground communications systems.

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in the development, integration, and delivery of both space and ground cryptographic units, ensuring all solutions align with mission objectives and system requirements.
• Lead spacecraft cryptographic unit trade studies, evaluating candidate solutions against requirements, interface constraints, environmental considerations, performance criteria, and testability. Deliver clear, data‑driven recommendations to program leadership and customers.
• Oversee the technical design, interface definition, development, and delivery of needed encryption units, including hardware and firmware. Ensure compatibility with subsystems and compliance with mission, cybersecurity, and interface standards.
• Manage technical design, interface definition, development, and delivery of needed encryption units, ensuring proper integration with ground systems, mission operations, and secure architectures.
• Support and oversee all testing activities for encryption units including dry runs and SVT. Ensure successful completion of verification and validation campaigns by developing or reviewing test plans, procedures, and reports. Participate in TRRs, dry run, SVTs, participate in CDRL review, address anomalies, and ensure full requirement traceability.
• Provide supplemental support for Protected Key Management Architecture (PKMA) including secure key management processes, documentation, and architecture alignment.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with government customers, contractors, subcontractors, and FFRDC partners. Represent the crypto engineering function in design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and program‑level forums.
• Lead and mentor engineers (junior to mid‑level), including task assignment, technical reviews, and professional development.
• Oversee crypto lifecycle management. Manage technical scope, priorities, and dependencies for cryptographic tasks within program schedules and constraints.
• Establish and enforce cryptographic standards and best practices across programs and platforms.

Work Environment

• Location: On-site
• Travel Requirements: About once monthly
• Working Hours: Standard

Qualifications

Required:

• An active TS/SCI is required for this position
• Bachelors degree
• Understanding of the discipline and practice of Systems Engineering throughout the system lifecycle phases of concept, development, production, operations, and sustainment
• 15+ years’ experience with systems engineering, which may include crypto, cyber security, requirements development, verification, integration, and test
• 10+ years’ experience with crypto, NSA certification processes, and Key Management processes
• 5+ years’ experience with military or DoD or Intelligence Community space and ground
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Possess strong oral and written communication and presentation skills; able to author final-version deliverable technical documents and reports

Preferred Skills

• Bachelors degree in technical field, such as engineering, mathematics, physics, information systems, information technology, or computer science
• Masters degree
• Familiarity with Jira and Confluence
• Experience with NSA’s Key Management Infrastructure (KMI)
• Experience with HAIPEs and cross-domain solutions (CDS)
• Certifications, such as CISSP, SANS, CEH, INCOSE CSEP or ESEP, OCSMP (MBSE)

Basic Compensation: $163,000-$204,000 in California

The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.

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.

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.

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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