Wildland Fire Risk Scientist

KBR, Inc.; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR in Sioux Falls, SD seeks a Wildland Fire Risk Scientist to support USGS wildfire risk assessments. You will apply GIS, remote sensing, and data-driven methods to analyze risk to buildings and the wildland-urban interface.

The role emphasizes advanced scripting in Python/R, manuscript authorship, data table development, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to map and mitigate wildfire impacts at national scales.

Qualifications

• PhD or advanced degree in ecology, landscape ecology, forestry, fire science, conservation science or related field.
• 3–5 years of recent and related work experience in fire ecology and landscape dynamics.
• Advanced understanding of ground, surface, and canopy fuel types and their effects on wildland fire behavior.

Responsibilities

• Forward research in wildfire exposure and risk to buildings and the wildland-urban interface to inform risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Advance methods to predict wildfire exposure and damage at national or larger scales using models and ML/DL approaches.
• Lead development and publication of journal articles related to this research.
• Develop, maintain, and expand datasets that quantify building losses caused by wildfires annually.
• Develop prototypes and identify data sources for non-building assets impacted by wildfires.
• Develop, update, and analyze global- and national-scale datasets mapping Wildland Urban Interface using building footprints, census data, land cover, and fire data.

Skills

Python and R

GIS and remote sensing

Technical writing

Interpersonal communication

Presentation skills

Education

PhD in ecology/landscape ecology/forestry/fire science or related field

Tools

ERDAS

ArcGIS

ArcPro

QGIS

Git

Job description

Title:

Wildland Fire Risk Scientist

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.

Position Summary

The primary focus of this position is to provide research support to the USGS team tasked with understanding wildfire risk to buildings, the wildland-urban interface, the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and other valued assets. This will require advanced level science support with experience in remote sensing, geographic information systems, geospatial processing, scripting, statistical analysis, and science communications.

Title: Wildland Fire Risk Scientist

Responsibilities:

Specifically, the successful candidate will:

• Forward research in wildfire exposure and risk to buildings, the wildland-urban interface (WUI), and other valued assets to inform DOI and USWFS wildfire risk assessments and risk mitigation strategies.

• Advance methods to predict wildfire exposure and damage to buildings at national or larger scales using simulation models and deep and machine learning

• Lead development and publication of journal articles related to this research

• Develop, maintain, and expand data sets that quantify building losses caused wildfires annually

• Develop prototypes and identify data sources for non-building valued assets such as communication, energy, hydrological, or transportation infrastructure impacted by wildfires

• Develop, update, and analyze global- and national-scale datasets mapping Wildland Urban Interface using building footprints, census bureau, land cover, and fire occurrence data

Required Education and Experience:

Candidates must meet the requirements listed below to be considered for this position; please note required items on your resume.

• Must have a 3-year residency in the United States

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation after hire to obtain credentials for facility access and user accounts.

• Education: PhD or advanced Degree or equivalent experience in ecology, landscape ecology, forestry, fire science, conservation science or another relevant field - especially study in how ecological systems function both naturally and after disturbance
• Years of Experience: Must have minimum 3-5 years of recent and related work experience in fire ecology and knowledge with plant community dynamics across the landscape

• Advanced understanding of ground, surface, and canopy fuel types/characteristics and their effects on wildland fire behavior in conjunction with environmental factors

• Experience with image processing and GIS software (e.g., ERDAS, ArcGIS, ArcPro, QGIS)

• Familiarity with raster and vector data processing and ability to perform spatial analysis and validation

• Strong interpersonal communication, technical writing, editing and presentation skills and an advanced knowledge of Microsoft office tools for reporting and documentation of processes and procedures

Minimum Requirements

• Experience with Python and R, and potentially AI-supported development environments (e.g., Kiro) to develop models, data analyses, and visualizations
• Experience with shared code repositories
• Ability to serve in both lead author and co-author roles to plan and complete manuscripts targeting high-impact scientific journals
• Participate in virtual and occasional in-person team meetings as needed
• Ability to work in a team environment to help shape, manage and execute projects applying geospatial data and systems to solve geospatial problems

Areas of Desired Experience & Skills

• Ability to contribute to the definition, direction, and implementation of the Wildland Fuels Program at EROS
• Ability to self-teach in areas of weakness utilizing available on-the-job training resources

KBR partners with several other companies to fulfill its requirements as a government contractor. The selected subcontracting companies align their benefits as closely as possible to those of KBR.

KBR Benefits:

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include401K 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.