Test Engineer - Spaceflight Hardware

Trinzic; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR, supporting NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, seeks a Test Engineer for spaceflight hardware. You will lead test planning, design test fixtures, and execute certification testing across life‑cycle stages, ensuring safe, compliant hardware delivery.

The role emphasizes rigorous documentation, collaboration with customers and stakeholders, and on‑site work with occasional travel. Strong background in environmental testing is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science required.
• 5+ years of related experience in engineering.
• Experience with environmental tests (random vibration, shock, thermal cycling, EMI/EMC, thermal vacuum).
• Proficient in writing test plans, procedures, and test reports.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safety records and certifications.
• Develop test strategies and plans from project requirements.
• Coordinate with facilities and customers for test scheduling.
• Collaborate with project team to execute development and certification testing.
• Design tests and fixtures, run tests, collect and decipher data.
• Prepare and present test reports.

Skills

Mechanical systems

Structural systems

Electro‑mechanical systems

Pressure systems

Fluid systems

Test documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science

Tools

Microsoft Office Products

SolidWorks

Job description

Title:

Test Engineer - Spaceflight Hardware

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.

On the Human Health and Performance Contract we are at the forefront of safeguarding astronaut health, ensuring human performance, and advancing technologies for human space exploration. We are seeking a Test Engineer, ENG2 at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, TX.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you play a role in providing test engineering services for product development and certification efforts in support of various space flight projects for human health related systems as NASA continues to evolve systems for exploration missions including Moon Base and Artemis missions. It is expected that this position will support a larger project team and will receive task direction from a more senior project/test engineer or project manager. This position will support the design life cycle of the project. It is expected that this function understands testing requirements from the project and develop test plans to meet those requirements. This position will support the team by designing tests, test fixtures, writing test plans and procedures, conducting Test Readiness Reviews, operating hardware during tests, collecting and deciphering data, and writing test reports. Awareness of the Flight Hardware Development processing as outlined in SA-WI-014 and EA-023 is considered a strength with the expectation that the candidate will become well versed as the solutions are developed.

You will

• Maintain Safety records and certifications.
• Use project requirement documents and verification documents to develop test strategies/planning and produce test plans, test set-ups and procedures.
• Coordinate with service providers including scheduling test facilities as required.
• Collaborate with project management, customers, and other stakeholders to establish test schedules, coordinate, and execute development and certification testing events.
• Complete functional, development, certification, acceptance, and integration testing of the hardware during the different stages of the project life cycles.
• Correlate test results and complete data analysis as required in a test report format.
• Provide hardware support and technical knowledge during integrated hardware/software testing.
• Process hardware at KBR labs and Johnson Space Center Test Facilities
• Read, understand, and interpret engineering drawings.
• Work closely with the customer and project team members
• Other duties as assigned.

What You Bring

You bring experience leading product testing as a vital part of the Flight Hardware development team. You use your experience and judgment to control activity within your test area. You comply with KBR’s Safety, Health and Environmental Plan, Quality Plan, and all safety policies and procedures, and complete all assigned training.

Your Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in engineering or science and at least 5 years of related experience.
• Hands‑on experience with mechanical systems, structural systems, electro‑mechanical systems, pressure systems, and fluid systems, for various NASA programs and flight hardware.
• Familiarity with conducting environmental tests, such as random vibration, shock, thermal cycling, electromagnetic compatibility/interference testing, and thermal-vacuum testing
• Proficiency in writing test documentation, including test plans, procedures, and test reports

Desired

• Experience with JSC projects and test facilities
• 2 years of experience in flight hardware development
• Experience with testing in a Lab
• Experience with pressure systems

Your Skills

Required

• Microsoft Office Products

Desired

• Experience with Solid Works

What to Expect

This position is expected to be 100% on site and 100% in person. Occasional travel may be required.

Why KBR

KBR offers 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.

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.

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These 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.

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.