SETA Systems Engineer (Mid)

KBR, Inc; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR, Inc in Chantilly, VA seeks a SETA Systems Engineer (Mid) to support national security space programs. You will integrate intelligence with engineering analyses, conduct mission thread studies, and contribute to threat-informed defense systems.

The role requires space/defense experience, M&S tool proficiency (STK/AFSIM), and an active TS/SCI with Poly. On-site position with opportunities to influence program decisions and system resilience.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years in space/defense/IC analysis or systems engineering.
• Experience using space mission M&S tools (STK/AFSIM) to support analytic tasks.
• Working understanding of space and ground architectures and their interactions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related field.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with Poly.
• MS in Engineering/Physics/Applied Math/OR preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support threat-informed mission engineering activities, including end-to-end mission thread analysis and resiliency assessments.
• Develop and execute M&S cases with STK/AFSIM or Python/MATLAB to characterize system performance.
• Translate space/counterspace intelligence into technical requirements, MOP/MOE, and risk considerations for architectures.
• Coordinate with IC, DoD, and mission stakeholders to ensure analytic consistency.
• Contribute to test and evaluation planning and data sufficiency for evaluation criteria.
• Produce technically grounded assessments, reports, and briefings on space threat systems.

Skills

MBSE SysML/UML

Python

MATLAB

Monte Carlo

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Physics/Math/CS

MS degree preferred

Tools

STK

AFSIM

Job description

Title: SETA Systems Engineer (Mid) KBR is seeking a Systems Engineer (SETA) to support our customer in Chantilly, VA. The Technical Professional (SETA) provides systems engineering and analytical support to help inform national security space decisions. In this role, you will integrate all-source intelligence with engineering analysis, modeling, and simulation to evaluate foreign space and counterspace capabilities and assess their implications for U.S. and allied space and ground architectures. You will contribute to trade studies, mission thread analysis, and test and evaluation planning to reduce technical risk for government programs. The position requires close coordination with partners across the Intelligence Community (IC), DoD, and mission stakeholders to ensure analytic rigor, traceability, and alignment with threat-informed requirements and CONOPS. You will produce high-quality technical assessments and briefings that support strategy, resourcing, and operational readiness.

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: Join 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

Support threat-informed mission engineering activities, including end-to-end mission thread analysis, resiliency assessments, and deployment analysis.

Develop and execute modeling and simulation (M&S) cases using tools such as STK, AFSIM, or custom Python/MATLAB models to characterize system performance, coverage, and timelines.

Translate intelligence on foreign space and counterspace systems into technical requirements, measures of performance/effectiveness (MOP/MOE), and risk considerations for architectures and programs.

Coordinate with stakeholders across customer mission centers, Service components, USSF/SSC, the IC, and Combatant Commands to ensure analytic consistency and support decision processes.

Contribute to test and evaluation planning (developmental and operational), including modeling for test design, data sufficiency, and evaluation criteria.

Produce clear, technically grounded assessments, reports, and briefings on space threat systems and their implications for mission assurance and resilience.

Provide SETA support across the acquisition lifecycle, including requirements analysis, architecture decomposition, integration, verification/validation, and configuration management.

Apply analytic standards, review methodologies, and quality assurance practices to engineering and all-source analytic products.

Work Environment

Location: Chantilly, Va and Reston, VA [On-site]

Travel Requirements: Minimal

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week

Required Qualifications

Experience: 5-10 years in space, defense, or IC analysis or systems engineering, including exposure to space threat analysis or mission/architecture assessments within the IC/DoD environment.

Modeling & Simulation: Demonstrated experience using space mission M&S tools (e.g., STK, AFSIM, or equivalent) to support analytic or engineering tasks.

Architecture Knowledge: Working understanding of space and ground architectures, including interactions among mission, ground, and user segments.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field from an accredited institution.

Clearance: an active TS/SCI security clearance with Poly.

Preferred Qualifications: Advanced Degree: M.S. in Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related discipline.

Advanced Methods/Tools: Experience with MBSE (SysML/UML), digital engineering environments, or advanced modeling approaches (e.g., Python/MATLAB toolchains, Monte Carlo methods).

Mission/Enterprise Awareness: Familiarity with Intelligence Community and Combatant Command organizations (e.g., NRO, NSA, NGA, USSPACECOM), and understanding of how space and counterspace intelligence informs operational planning and joint mission execution.

Basic Compensation

$156,200 to $187,000 The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.

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 a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

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’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.