SETA Systems Engineer (Mid)

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

Job summary

KBR in Chantilly, VA is seeking a SETA Systems Engineer (Mid) to support national security space decisions by integrating intelligence with engineering analysis, modelling, and simulation to evaluate foreign capabilities and assess implications for U.S. space and ground architectures.

You will work on trade studies, mission thread analysis, and test and evaluation planning to reduce technical risk, coordinating with IC, DoD, and mission stakeholders to ensure analytic rigor and traceability.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years in space, defense, or IC analysis or systems engineering.
• Experience with space mission M&S tools (STK/AFSIM or equivalents).
• Understanding of space and ground architectures and interactions.
• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field from an accredited institution.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with Poly.

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 cases using tools such as STK, AFSIM, or Python/MATLAB models to characterize performance, coverage, and timelines.
• Translate intelligence on foreign space and counterspace systems into technical requirements, measures of performance/effectiveness, and risk considerations for architectures.
• Coordinate with stakeholders across customer mission centers, USSF/SSC, the IC, and Combatant Commands to ensure analytic consistency and support decision processes.
• Contribute to test and evaluation planning, 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.

Skills

Systems engineering

Threat analysis

Modeling & Simulation

Space systems

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Physics

Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

STK

AFSIM

Python

MATLAB

SysML/UML

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.