Title:

Systems Engineer

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.

KBR is seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineer with a focus on ground systems and cloud-enabled mission architectures to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) in support of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO). This role supports the rapid development, integration, fielding, and sustainment of classified capabilities critical to U.S. Space Force operational objectives.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted technical advisor to government program office, providing systems engineering leadership across the ground segment, including requirements development, architecture design, cloud-hosted mission services, integration, risk management, and operational readiness. The candidate will provide oversight of existing contractors and work across multiple organizations to ensure that requirements are tracked, verified, and validated to enable mission success.

Key Responsibilities

Ground Systems & Mission Architecture

• Provide technical leadership for integration efforts of mission unique software and ground system into a cloud hosted environment.
• Serve as the technical authority for ground system design documentation, including:
  • System and software requirements
  • High-level and detailed architectural designs
  • Interface control documentation (ICDs)
• Evaluate and approve ground system baseline changes, tracking technical impacts to cost, schedule, and performance.
• Analyze telemetry, performance, and operational data to validate nominal system behavior or identify degradation.

Cloud & Digital Engineering

• Support development and assessment of cloud-based ground architectures, including hybrid and government-authorized cloud environments.
• Advise on and oversee the implementation of modern software development practices, including AGILE methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) and DevSecOps, to enable rapid, iterative delivery of modular and service-oriented architectures within classified constraints.

Systems Engineering & SETA Support

• Lead or support requirements definition and decomposition from program inception through deployment.
• Conduct and evaluate architecture trade studies, modeling, and technical analyses.
• Track system risks and deficiencies, recommending mitigation strategies to government leadership.
• Ensure technical deliverables meet mission objectives, warfighting relevance, and quality standards.
• Support system engineering reviews, acquisition milestones, and test readiness activities.

Program & Stakeholder Coordination

• Provide technical guidance to program managers and engineering teams across multiple mission partners.
• Coordinate with government, FFRDCs, primes, and subcontractors to ensure alignment and milestone delivery.
• Support planning and execution of ground system test campaigns and system acceptance activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related STEM discipline (ABET accredited or equivalent)
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience supporting DoD, IC, or space-related acquisition programs
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • Ground system engineering for space missions
  • Systems engineering processes across the system lifecycle
  • Requirements development, configuration management, and risk management
  • Modern software development lifecycles and methodologies, including AGILE and DevSecOps
• Experience working in classified environments (SAP/SCI)
• Strong technical communication skills; ability to brief senior government leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a SETA supporting a government program office
• Experience developing, deploying, or sustaining:
  • Mission planning systems
  • Cloud-hosted or distributed ground architectures
• Familiarity with:
  • Integrated Master Schedules (IMS)
  • ACAT I/II acquisition programs
  • Rapid prototyping and rapid fielding efforts
  • Agile program management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence)
• Experience integrating space, ground, cyber, and C2 systems

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related STEM discipline (ABET accredited or equivalent)

Security Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI access
• SAP eligibility required (minimum prior SAP/SCI experience; recency preferred)
• Willingness to submit to and maintain a polygraph
• Must be able to maintain clearance throughout employment

Work Environment

Location: Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB), Albuquerque, NM
Travel: ~25%
Schedule: Full-time | On-site
Clearance: Active Top Secret with SCI and SAP eligibility required

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re excited about making a significant impact in the field of space defense and working on projects that matter, we encourage you to apply and join our team at KBR. Let's shape the future together.

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.