Technical Lead – AOC Falconer Modernization

KBR, Inc.; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR, Inc. is seeking a senior Technical Lead to guide solution development for the Falconer AOC modernization and sustainment program. You will shape technical vision, assess modernization opportunities, manage risks, and drive an executable, mission-focused solution.

The role requires strong collaboration with government stakeholders and engineers to deliver complex defense outcomes. The ideal candidate has deep experience in AOC/air operations, cloud adoption, DevSecOps, cybersecurity

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, systems engineering, cybersecurity, information systems, operations research, or related technical field.
• 12+ years of relevant experience delivering complex DoD/IC programs.
• Experience as a technical lead, chief engineer, solution architect, or similar role.
• Deep familiarity with system‑of‑systems integration, hybrid cloud/on‑prem, DevSecOps, cybersecurity/RMF, and mission sustainment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior technical lead for Falconer/AOC solution development and proposal readiness.
• Develop integrated technical approach across sustainment, modernization, cloud, on‑prem, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and mission assurance.
• Identify gaps, dependencies, risks, and input needs before proposal submission.
• Ensure the solution is practical for live, distributed weapon system environments.
• Guide technical strategy for a heterogeneous system‑of‑systems with legacy apps and classified environments.
• Shape approaches for hybrid cloud/on‑prem operations, API governance, and open architecture integration.
• Lead DevSecOps planning, automation patterns, RMF/ATO, and classified cloud considerations.
• Develop technical narratives for proposals and support color team readiness.
• Define technical governance and execution models for transition, deployment, and sustainment.

Skills

Technical leadership

DoD program experience

System-of-systems integration

DevSecOps / cloud

RMF / cybersecurity

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering

Job description

Title:

Technical Lead – AOC Falconer Modernization

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.

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.

Position Summary:

KBR is seeking a senior Technical Lead to guide solution development for a large, mission-critical Air Operations Center (AOC) modernization and sustainment effort. Prior to award, the Technical Lead will support capture, proposal, and transition planning activities by shaping the technical vision, assessing modernization opportunities, identifying risks, and developing an executable, mission-focused solution. Following award, the Technical Lead will serve as the senior technical authority for the program, responsible for technical strategy, solution architecture, engineering integration, technology modernization, cybersecurity alignment, technical risk management, and delivery of mission-relevant technical outcomes. This is a mission-facing technical leadership role requiring a proven leader who can build trusted relationships with government stakeholders, operators, engineers, architects, and teammates while delivering complex operational and technical solutions.

The ideal candidate is a former senior technical leader, architect, chief engineer, or engineering manager with deep experience supporting AOC, air operations, operational C2, or comparable mission-critical defense systems. This candidate must understand how the current and future AOC technology ecosystem functions in operational environments and possess hands‑on experience delivering complex defense technology in classified environments. The candidate should understand the practical challenges associated with modernizing legacy systems, cloud adoption, DevSecOps implementation, cybersecurity and RMF compliance, hybrid on‑premises and cloud infrastructure, third‑party integration, system interoperability, mission assurance, and fielded system sustainment. The candidate will exhibit collaborative technical leadership with the government program office, operators, engineers, teammates, and the requirements community. They must be able to challenge assumptions, identify technical risks and gaps, and translate solution concepts into differentiated, proposal‑ready approaches that are both credible and executable.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Solution Architecture

• Serve as the senior technical lead for KBR’s Falconer/AOC solution development and proposal readiness activities.
• Develop an integrated technical approach across sustainment, modernization, cloud, on‑prem infrastructure, DevSecOps, cybersecurity, configuration management, fielding, help desk, and mission assurance.
• Identify technical gaps, dependencies, assumptions, risks, data needs, and areas requiring additional SME input before proposal submission.
• Ensure the proposed solution is practical for a live, distributed weapon system environment and avoids unrealistic cloud‑only or technology‑first assumptions.

2. AOC Modernization and Integration Leadership

• Guide technical strategy for a heterogeneous system‑of‑systems with legacy applications, third‑party components, site‑specific baselines, classified environments, and evolving Government architectures.
• Shape approaches for hybrid cloud/on‑prem operations, distributed C2, data synchronization, interface management, API governance, and open architecture integration.
• Develop approaches for mission‑safe modernization, including shadow operations, blue/green validation, staged deployment, controlled cutover, rollback, recoverable baselines, and continuous evidence generation.
• Coordinate closely with the Program Manager to ensure the technical approach aligns to cost, schedule, performance, operational readiness, and Government oversight expectations.

3. DevSecOps, Cyber, and Classified Cloud

• Lead technical planning for DevSecOps‑enabled deployment automation, infrastructure‑as‑code, configuration‑as‑code, CI/CD pipelines, staged validation, and automated evidence generation.
• Define practical automation patterns for applications that were not originally designed for automation, including wrapper/adapter approaches, deployment bundles, external configuration control, and regression validation.
• Coordinate with cyber and cloud SMEs on RMF, ATO, continuous authorization, IL5, IL6, IL6+, classified cloud, hybrid enclave constraints, cybersecurity evidence, and operational risk reduction.
• Ensure security and compliance are embedded as engineering controls rather than treated as late‑stage documentation activities.

4. Proposal and Capture Technical Content

• Develop technical narratives, solution graphics inputs, white paper content, proposal sections, assumptions, questions, and oral presentation material.
• Support win theme development by identifying credible technical discriminators grounded in modernization, mission assurance, integration discipline, cyber risk reduction, and operational continuity.
• Lead technical color team preparation and help identify weaknesses in draft responses before customer submission.
• Support partner and subcontractor technical integration by clarifying roles, capability gaps, interfaces, and teaming dependencies.

5. Execution Readiness and Technical Governance

• Help define the technical execution model for transition, integration, test, deployment, sustainment, configuration control, cyber evidence, and modernization increments.
• Support development of technical staffing models across solution architecture, systems engineering, software, cloud, cyber, DevSecOps, integration, CM, fielding, and Tier 2/3 support.
• Design technical governance mechanisms that preserve Government authority over baselines while enabling timely modernization and transparent contractor execution.
• If awarded, potentially transition into Chief Engineer, Technical Director, Solution Architect, or senior technical advisor role.

Work Environment:

• Location: Onsite-Hanscomb AFB-preferred
• Travel Requirements: Up to 25%, with potential travel for customer engagements, technical interchange meetings, partner coordination, proposal activities, and site visits.
• Working Hours: Standard with flexibility required during proposal surge periods and technical review cycles.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, systems engineering, cybersecurity, information systems, operations research, or related technical field.
• 12+ years of relevant experience delivering complex DoD, Air Force, Joint, intelligence community, or mission‑critical technology programs.
• Demonstrated experience as a technical lead, chief engineer, solution architect, systems integration lead, technical director, DevSecOps lead, cloud modernization lead, or similar role.
• Deep technical familiarity with system‑of‑systems integration, hybrid cloud/on‑prem infrastructure, software modernization, DevSecOps, cybersecurity/RMF, configuration management, and mission‑critical sustainment.
• Experience developing technical solution content for white papers, proposals, oral presentations, solution reviews, or customer demonstrations.
• Ability to lead senior technical SMEs and integrate diverse technical inputs into a coherent solution architecture and execution approach.
• Ability to identify technical gaps, hidden dependencies, unrealistic assumptions, and execution risks early.
• Active Top Secret clearance.

Desired:

• Industry experience supporting Air Operations Centers, Kessel Run, C3BM, JADC2, CBC2, C2Core, Platform One, DAF CloudWorks, or related defense modernization efforts.
• Hands‑on experience with IL5, IL6, IL6+, classified cloud, hybrid enclaves, RMF, ATO, continuous authorization, and cyber evidence generation.
• Experience with DevSecOps pipelines, infrastructure‑as‑code, configuration‑as‑code, automated testing, containerization, release orchestration, staged deployment, and rollback patterns.
• Experience integrating COTS, GOTS, third‑party applications, legacy applications, APIs, data services, and mission systems into operational environments.
• Experience designing modernization strategies for systems that must remain operational 24/7/365.
• Experience supporting major DoD proposals as technical volume lead, solution architect, chief engineer, or technical capture lead.
• Master’s degree in a technical discipline or equivalent senior technical leadership experience.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

Ready to Make a Difference?

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.