Space Vehicle Systems Engineer

Trinzic; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR’s Space Vehicle Systems Engineer role sits within the National Security Solutions team, focusing on the Proliferated SAR, Communications and EO domains to deliver high-end space system solutions. You will work with a multi-disciplinary government and contractor team to define spacecraft bus and payload integration, with emphasis on payloads and bus integration.

Requirements include active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph and 14+ years of engineeringExperience (or 12+ with a Master's).

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering/scientific/technical field and 14+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with 12+ years.
• Experience with space systems design, development, assembly, integration and testing.
• Experience with IC and/or DoD environments.
• Ability to lead and be the primary point of contact for one or more projects.
• Strong interpersonal and customer engagement skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical subjects to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct daily support to the program office Contracts Officer (CO) and Contracts Officer Technical Representatives (COTR).
• Engage with Space and Ground System Development contractors to communicate and validate US Government objectives and milestones within cost, schedule and performance constraints.
• Collaborate with SMEs to provide technical expertise across system definition, requirements, development and sustainment.
• Engage program stakeholders to define and communicate system designs and interfaces to satisfy mission requirements.
• Advise Government customers to identify technology gaps and assess technology maturity for mission improvements.
• Build and present comprehensive briefings on progress, risks, issues and opportunities.
• Provide expertise in sensitive Acquisition Source-Selection activities.
• Evaluate contractor performance and reinforce engineering rigor.

Skills

TS/SCI clearance

Polygraph

Space systems design

Satellite systems engineering

Leadership

Customer engagement

Effective communication

Education

B.S. in engineering/technical field

M.S. in engineering/technical field

Job description

Title:

Space Vehicle Systems 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 country 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!

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 looking for Space Vehicle Systems Engineer to join our Proliferated Synthetic Aperture Rader (SAR), Communications, and Electro-Optical (EO) team. We provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support to a major US Government spacecraft procurement and operations organization. You will work as part of a multi-skilled Government and contractor team to deliver a complex space and ground system at the technological cutting edge. As part of this team, you will be performing in multiple engineering roles, primarily focused on the spacecraft itself mainly pertaining to the payload and integration onto the bus, as part of a small team with broad expertise and a need to collaborate across the space and intelligence communities. You will routinely engage with development, operations, and mission user teams.

The Space Vehicle Systems Engineer supports the System Program Office (SPO) in the acquisition of a new spacecraft and ground integrated system. Primary focus will be on the spacecraft segment. This may include multiple phases of spacecraft bus and payload requirements definition, design, fabrication, testing, integration, launch, deployment and operations sustainment.

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 direct daily support to the program office Contracts Officer (CO) and Contracts Officer Technical Representatives (COTR). In this role you will perform as a trusted agent of the Government, overseeing development contractor efforts to achieve program objectives.
• Engage with Space and Ground System Development contractors to communicate and validate US Government objectives and achieve mission milestones within a cost, schedule and performance structure.
• Work as part of a team with technical domain Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to provide technical expertise and domain knowledge toward problem-solving in all aspects of system definition, requirements, development and sustainment.
• Engage program stakeholders, across the community and in operations to define and communicate detailed understanding of the systems, designs, and interfaces necessary to satisfy mission requirements.
• Advise the Government customer to identify potential technology gaps, define technology insertion points and assess technology maturity to facilitate mission performance improvements across a wide range of technical capabilities.
• Build and present comprehensive briefings with supporting document products to communicate work or study progress toward objectives, risks, issues and opportunities.
• Provide expertise in the conduct of sensitive Acquisition Source-Selection activities.
• Your engineering expertise will be crucial in evaluating development contractor performance and in reinforcing engineering rigor.

Basic Compensation:

$150,000 - $225,000 USD annually

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

Work Environment:

• Location: On-site
• Travel Requirements: Minimal
• Working Hours: Standard

Required Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI security clearance with current Polygraph
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, scientific, or technical discipline, and 14 years or more relevant experience; OR Master’s degree in an engineering, scientific, or technical discipline and 12 years or more relevant experience.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with a Polygraph
• Experience with space systems design, development, assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with the Intelligence Community (IC) and/or the Department of Defense
• Experience with IC architectures, spacecraft, and payloads
• Ability to lead and be the primary point of contact for one or more projects
• Effective interpersonal skills (across multiple groups, offices, and organizations) and strong customer engagement skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical subjects to a diverse audience of senior decision makers with varying levels of technical expertise in written and oral formats
• Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic, integrated team environment
• Experience with multiple satellite programs and satellite System Engineering Integration and Test
• Experience with early life-cycle satellite engineering activities/milestones, satellite assembly, integration and test (AI&T), and Launch and Initialization (L&I) activities

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’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.