UAS Developmental Test Project Officer

Trinzic; Port Hueneme (CA); On-site; USD 127,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR is seeking a UAS Developmental Test Project Officer to lead developmental test and evaluation activities for unmanned aerial systems. You will act as the primary integrator, coordinating personnel, ranges, instrumentation, airspace, and data requirements to safely meet test objectives.

This on‑site role at Patuxent River emphasizes leadership, planning, and collaboration with government and industry partners, including risk management and technical reporting. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aviation, mathematics, physics, computer science, or another relevant technical discipline and relevant test or unmanned‑systems experience; additional directly relevant military, technical, or test experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 10 years of experience
• Experience planning, coordinating, or leading complex test and evaluation, aviation, or unmanned‑systems activities.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and the personnel, facilities, ranges, equipment, instrumentation, and other resources required to execute complex test or operational events.
• Demonstrated understanding of test planning, risk management, test execution, data collection and analysis, deficiency documentation, and technical reporting.
• Experience with UAS operations, testing, engineering, integration, or mission support.
• Demonstrated leadership, technical judgment, and ability to independently coordinate complex activities involving multiple organizations and stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, execution, analysis, and reporting of developmental test activities involving UAVs and associated robotic and autonomous systems.
• Serve as the primary integrator for assigned test efforts, ensuring availability and coordination of personnel, test articles, ranges, targets, instrumentation, equipment, airspace, communications, data systems, and other required resources.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of operators, engineers, analysts, technicians, range personnel, program representatives, and other stakeholders during test planning and execution.
• Develop and coordinate test plans, procedures, schedules, risk‑management products, resource requirements, data requirements, technical documentation, and test readiness activities.
• Coordinate with Government leadership, program offices, range organizations, airspace authorities, and supporting organizations to identify and resolve technical, operational, scheduling, safety, and resource issues.
• Evaluate test results, document deficiencies and lessons learned, and support preparation of technical reports, briefings, and recommendations.
• Provide technical and test leadership to UAS operators and test specialists as the organization grows, and operate or support operation of UAS when appropriate based on qualifications and mission requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Test planning

Coordination

Risk management

Data collection

UAS operations

Technical reporting

Team leadership

Security clearance

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

UAS Developmental Test Project Officer

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.

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.

KBR is seeking a UAS Developmental Test Project Officer to lead developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) activities involving unmanned aerial vehicles and associated mission systems supporting Naval Test Wing Atlantic. The UAS Project Officer will serve as the primary integrator for assigned test efforts, leading multidisciplinary teams through test planning, preparation, execution, analysis, and reporting. The selected candidate will coordinate the personnel, test articles, ranges, instrumentation, targets, airspace, equipment, data requirements, and other resources necessary to safely and effectively accomplish test objectives.

This position emphasizes test leadership and project execution rather than vehicle operation. The Project Officer will provide technical and operational leadership to engineers, operators, analysts, technicians, range personnel, and other supporting organizations. Depending on experience and program requirements, the selected candidate may also operate or support operation of unmanned aircraft, but vehicle operation will not be the primary responsibility. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating in a developing mission area where requirements, processes, test infrastructure, and team composition will continue to evolve.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, execution, analysis, and reporting of developmental test activities involving UAVs and associated robotic and autonomous systems.
• Serve as the primary integrator for assigned test efforts, ensuring availability and coordination of personnel, test articles, ranges, targets, instrumentation, equipment, airspace, communications, data systems, and other required resources.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams of operators, engineers, analysts, technicians, range personnel, program representatives, and other stakeholders during test planning and execution.
• Develop and coordinate test plans, procedures, schedules, risk‑management products, resource requirements, data requirements, technical documentation, and test readiness activities.
• Coordinate with Government leadership, program offices, range organizations, airspace authorities, and supporting organizations to identify and resolve technical, operational, scheduling, safety, and resource issues.
• Evaluate test results, document deficiencies and lessons learned, and support preparation of technical reports, briefings, and recommendations.
• Provide technical and test leadership to UAS operators and test specialists as the organization grows, and operate or support operation of UAS when appropriate based on qualifications and mission requirements.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, aviation, mathematics, physics, computer science, or another relevant technical discipline and relevant test or unmanned‑systems experience; additional directly relevant military, technical, or test experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 10 years of experience
• Demonstrated experience planning, coordinating, or leading complex test and evaluation, aviation, or unmanned‑systems activities.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and the personnel, facilities, ranges, equipment, instrumentation, and other resources required to execute complex test or operational events.
• Demonstrated understanding of test planning, risk management, test execution, data collection and analysis, deficiency documentation, and technical reporting.
• Experience with UAS operations, testing, engineering, integration, or mission support.
• Demonstrated leadership, technical judgment, and ability to independently coordinate complex activities involving multiple organizations and stakeholders.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) or an equivalent recognized military test pilot school as a pilot, Naval Flight Officer, or flight test engineer.
• Previous experience serving as a developmental test Project Officer, Test Director, Test Conductor, or equivalent test‑team lead.
• Previous developmental test experience supporting NTWL, Naval Test Wing Pacific (NTWP), or a comparable DoD test organization.
• Military or civilian experience operating UAVs/UAS or performing duties directly supporting unmanned aviation operations.
• Experience with complex command‑and‑control, data‑link, payload, ground‑control, or mission systems.
• Experience coordinating aviation test ranges, restricted airspace, telemetry, instrumentation, targets, chase/support aircraft, or other test resources.
• Knowledge of applicable military aviation safety, airworthiness, risk‑management, and contractor flight‑operations requirements.
• Experience with autonomous systems, advanced autonomy, human‑machine teaming, or integration of unmanned systems into complex test environments.
• Master’s degree in engineering, systems engineering, test and evaluation, aviation, or another relevant technical field.

Work Environment

• Primary work location will be the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland area, to include Webster Outlying Field.
• This is primarily an on‑site position supporting Government test activities.
• Travel may be required to support test events and program activities.

Compensation: $127,000-$191,000. The salary range posted is based on the national average. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s location, knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience, contract affordability, and in consideration of internal parity.

Additional Compensation: KBR may offer bonuses, commissions, or other forms of compensation to certain job titles or levels per internal policy or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be in the form of a sign‑on bonus, relocation benefits, short‑term incentives, long‑term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

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.

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