Space Suit Project Engineer

KBR Careers; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Space Suit Project Engineer to provide engineering support for the design, development, and testing of hardware for exploration missions at NASA Johnson Space Center. The role emphasizes compliance with safety, quality, and NASA standards, with hands-on development and cross-functional teamwork.

The engineer will analyze test results, develop verification plans, and coordinate with NASA stakeholders to ensure on-time delivery of space suit hardware.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan and safety policies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and test space suits and related hardware.
• Develop assembly plans, testing strategies, and procedures using project requirements.
• Oversee evaluation, qualification, and acceptance tests of space suits and components.
• Lead root cause analysis and risk management for hardware issues; document lessons learned.

Skills

Effective communication

Teamwork

Independent work

Technical communication

Root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, or related)

Tools

MIDAS

CDS

QARC

EDMS

ELABEL

EDS

ISS PART

EDRS/EDCC

JEDII

Job description

Space Suit Project Engineer

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.

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.