Space Suit Project Engineer

Trinzic; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

KBR Benefits

401K with company match

Medical, dental, vision

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Space Suit Project Engineer to lead hardware development, testing, and verification for NASA Johnson Space Center programs. The role focuses on space suit components, hardware maturation, and compliance with NASA standards.

On-site role with occasional travel (~10%). Requires engineering degree, 3+ years of hardware experience, and ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, or related field).
• Minimum of three years of experience in hardware manufacturing, testing, and troubleshooting.
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency; ability to obtain Public Trust clearance.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to work with minimal supervision and in a team.
• Experience with NASA/JSC tools: MIDAS, CDS, QARC, EDMS, ELABEL, EDS, ISS PART, EDRS/EDCC, JEDII.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plans and policies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and test space suits and related hardware.
• Support design, fabrication, testing, and verification of space suit components.
• Develop assembly plans, testing strategies, test setups and procedures.
• Oversee testing, analysis, and reporting of verification tests for suit hardware.
• Interface with NASA stakeholders as required.
• Lead troubleshooting, root-cause analysis and risk management.

Skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Self-motivation

Root cause analysis

Troubleshooting hardware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Aerospace/Mechanical)

Tools

MIDAS

CDS

QARC

EDMS

ELABEL

EDS

ISS PART

EDRS/EDCC

JEDII

Job description

Title:

Space Suit Project Engineer

At KBR, we deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 85 countries and operations in over 28 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results.

Trinzic is the future independent company to be created through the planned spin-off of KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business, expected in January 2027. Our people work at the frontier of what is possible, delivering solutions in challenging environments and advancing some of the world's highest-priority national security and space missions.

Backed by decades of mission success, deep expertise, and trusted partnerships, Trinzic will launch as a global organization with more than 18,000 employees supporting customers around the world. Join us at a defining moment and help shape the future of a company built to tackle complex challenges and make a meaningful impact.

Candidates who join KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business before the spin-off will transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete and will not need to reapply for employment.

Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

Around here, we define the future.

We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely.

The purpose of the Project Engineer position is to provide engineering support for the design, development, fabrication, assembly, engineering evaluation, testing, and certification of hardware for use on exploration missions (e.g. Orion, Human Landing System). This position is in support of Space Suit Development on the Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).

This position is expected to be 100% on site and in person. Occasional travel may be required (~10% of the time).

Successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the successful execution of projects and delivery of hardware to NASA/JSC in support of exploration missions. Candidate will require key skills needed for requirements development and verification, parts identification, hardware development, testing, certification/delivery, and sustaining. This position will require the candidate to be well versed in the quality process for the development and sustainment of controlled hardware, including the writing of Task Performance Sheets and disposition of Discrepancy Reports. Candidate will be responsible for reviewing, understanding, and interpreting engineering drawings, as well as providing initial inputs for development and redlines for updates to drawings. Candidate will strategize, oversee, and participate in hands-on development activities. Effective communication will be a critical skill in working with the project, other project engineers, technical support staff, NASA vendors, and quality engineering personnel. This position will require the candidate to multitask and coordinate multiple highly technical and complex development threads within the context of and in pursuit of the success of larger projects. This position will require distilling high-level project goals into discrete project tasks to ensure that the projects are completed successfully and on schedule.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan; must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the Company's safety policies and rules and must be willing to report safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel
• Responsible for compliance with the Quality Assurance Plan, policies and procedures
• Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance level as determined by the Company
• Responsible for completing all assigned training
• Maintain Safety records and certifications
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and test space suits and related hardware
• Support the design, fabrication, and testing of softgoods and hardgoods suit components, including troubleshooting hardware assemblies and optimizing manufacturing processes
• Utilize project requirement and verification documents to develop assembly plans, testing strategies, and produce test plans, test setups, and procedures
• Complete tasks to mature project requirements, ensuring compliance with NASA standards and protocols
• Oversee the development, execution, analysis, and reporting of engineering evaluation, qualification, and acceptance tests of space suits and space suit components
• Analyze test results, produce detailed reports, and recommend design improvements
• Interface with NASA stakeholders as required
• Lead troubleshooting efforts, root cause analysis, risk management, and failure investigation for hardware issues; capture and apply lessons learned
• Develop and maintain project documentation, including project reports and technical memos
• Lead the review of lunar dust mitigation strategies for internal systems and EVA operations, performing contamination control analysis, and helping to develop verification plans for dust-related requirements
• Candidate will be expected to execute concept to design, build, and test of risk mitigation hardware
• Will perform other duties and assignments as required

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor's degree or greater in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, or related field) from an accredited university with a minimum of three years of experience
• Experience with manufacturing, test, and troubleshooting of hardware
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency required; must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance

SKILLS/TRAINING:

REQUIRED:

• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing (MS Office tools)
• Able to work effectively with minimal supervision
• Able to work in a team environment
• Able to develop and clearly communicate information to technical forums
• Able to troubleshoot hardware and perform root cause analysis and analyze performance data

DESIRED:

• Experience in space suit design, softgoods components fabrication, or testing of suit hardware highly desired
• Experience leading small teams in a research and development function highly desired
• Experience with NASA or other government agency budgetary and proposal process
• Experience conducting similar work with Human Landing System or other NASA/JSC exploration programs (e.g. Orion)
• Experience with lunar dust testing and mitigation in spaceflight hardware
• Experience optimizing manufacturing processes for space hardware
• Experience with root cause analysis and failure investigation
• Experience with configuration and data management processes and submitting Change Requests
• Laboratory equipment experience (e.g. oscilloscope, digital multimeter, power supplies)
• Troubleshooting of electrical/mechanical equipment and software
• Proficiency with NASA/JSC tools: MIDAS, CDS, QARC, EDMS, ELABEL, EDS, ISS PART, EDRS/EDCC, JEDII

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 an 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 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.

Click here to learn more: KBR Benefits New | KBR (https://careers.kbr.com/us/en/kbr-benefits)

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBRAt 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.