Senior Space Systems Engineer

Title:

Senior Space 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.

KBR is seeking a Systems Space Systems Engineer to join our team in San Diego, CA. This role offers a hybrid work schedule.

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.

Key Responsibilities:

• As a Senior Space Systems Engineer with KBR, you will support the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), and you will serve as a critical technical liaison across space and ground segments to ensure the seamless integration and sustainment of mission systems.
• Leveraging your cross-domain expertise, you will lead efforts in risk management, cryptographic compatibility, system lifecycle planning, and technical coordination among diverse stakeholders, including SSC, NSA, CE, Mission Delta 8, vendors, and internal teams.
• Your role is essential in maintaining continuity, institutional knowledge, and mission assurance throughout program phases and personnel transitions. With strong communication and systems engineering acumen, you will advise leadership, support certification and accreditation efforts, and contribute to the long-term evolution of the Space Control Segment.
• A proactive approach to collaboration and a deep understanding of space operations will be key to success in this role.

Scope:

• Cross-Domain Knowledge: Lead ground and space systems integration, cryptographic compatibility, and mission assurance.
• Program Lifecycle Involvement: Provide support from pre-launch integration planning (L-36) to vendor oversight during early development phases (SLE Phase I).
• Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: Interface with SSC, CE, CGNE, 10 SOPS, Mission Delta 8, NSA, vendors, and internal engineering team, and additional stakeholders as required, to ensure integrated alignment.
• Continuity and Leadership: Provide continuity amid government personnel turnover, ensuring institutional memory and knowledge management.

Primary Role as Space Control Subject Matter Expert:

• Support and collaborate with the space engineering team to provide operational and sustainment subject matter expertise.
• Provide SME support to the Space Control Segment, offering feedback and recommendations to the Government team.
• Advise space leadership on concerns, questions, or uncertainties regarding sustainment activities.

Technical Liaison and Conduit:

• Serve as a bridge between CGN Space & Ground (SLE and baseline), CGN Engineering, CGM (logistics and maintenance), and future iterations of these units, supporting collaboration and resolving conflicts.
• Ensure consistent, two-way communication between branches and organizations that operate independently.
• Risk Manager and Technical Advisor:
• Support identification, clarification, and codification of technical and programmatic risks.
• Collaborate with risk and opportunity management leads and working groups.
• Advise leadership on risk tradeoffs and propose mitigation strategies while balancing mission assurance, cost, and schedule.

System Engineering Technical Support:

• Ensure synchronization with CGN Baseline Space/Ground, SLE Space/Ground, ILS, and engineering teams.
• Assess and document SLE CONOPS, crypto systems (e.g., KG505A vs KG503), and ensure compatibility between ground and space systems.
• Understand and support system security and system safety efforts (e.g., COMSEC/TRANSEC, program protection, cybersecurity, etc.) across domains and their impact on system certification and accreditation processes.
• Support evaluation and tracking of Technical Performance Measures.
• System Engineering Boards liaison (ARB, SERB, CCB, etc.) for Space Branch, to develop, review, and comment on packages to ensure space needs/LOEs are considered for submitted packages.
• Provide orbital analysis support, including collision avoidance, visualization, station keeping, and relocation.

Vendor and Mission Assurance Assistance:

• Maintain awareness and parity across vendors.
• Review documentation in the vendor library; act as a backup reviewer to the Space Lead.
• Review technical documents, files, emails, etc., and provide feedback and recommendations to the Government team (such as, but not limited to, On Orbit Handbook (OOH), Operational Perform File (OPF), Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM)).
• Collaborate, author, and assist with writing contract task orders, Statements of Work (SOW), Performance Work Statements (PWS), etc.
• · Support and facilitate Quarterly Constellation Status reviews and Space Sustainment Quarterly meetings.
• Collaborate with the Narrowband SATCOM Product Support Manager (PSM) and operations stakeholders, providing SME-level sustainment support and transition-to-ops planning.
• Contribute and collaborate to the development and sustainment of long-term goals (e.g., 5-year roadmap, advanced concepts, Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) mission designs, etc.).

Communication and Process Coordination:

• Monitor and assess impacts of changes in organizational structure.
• Define new lines of effort and communication pathways post-split.
• Assist the Integrated Master Scheduler by communicating Space Branch activities and timelines to ensure accurate schedule outputs.

Data and Specification Management:

• Track ownership, status, and content of SLE/BL/Ground specifications.
• Secondary reviewer for SLE CDRL (Contract Data Requirements List) deliverables.
• Provide structured feedback to vendors while maintaining neutrality, integrity, and fairness.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in satellite systems engineering.
• Strong understanding of the space domain.
• Experience with MUOS or similar satellite systems is preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of both space and ground domains, including cryptographic systems, systems security, program protection, and the ability to evaluate compatibility and risks across platforms.
• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Expert ability to identify, assess, and communicate technical and programmatic risks; advise on risk tradeoffs, and develop mitigation strategies that balance cost, schedule, and mission assurance.
• Experience with satellite, ground, and cryptographic systems and sustainment operations.
• Knowledge of military satellite communications systems and protocols.
• Familiarity with industry standards and best practices for satellite systems engineering.
• Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, Space Operations, or Physics; or equivalent technical field. 
• Active Secret security clearance is required to start.
• TS/SCI security clearance, Desired.

Basic Compensation: $163,000 - $203,000

The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities and/or experience 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 sign on bonus, relocation benefits, short term incentives, long term incentives, or discretionary payments for exceptional performance.

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.