KBR

Integrated Protection Strategy Engineer – Senior

Springfield, Virginia Full time

Title:

Integrated Protection Strategy Engineer – Senior

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.

This is a contingent position based upon contract award

KBR is seeking Integrated Protection Strategy Engineer – Senior, to lead the efforts to ensure safe and reliable operations of space assets through advanced conjunction assessment and mitigation strategies. This role involves developing, validating, and implementing collision avoidance algorithms, tools, and processes to protect critical systems in dynamic orbital environments. The engineer will collaborate with mission planning, flight dynamics, and operations teams to analyze risk and execute avoidance maneuvers when necessary. Candidates should demonstrate strong technical expertise, leadership in complex problem-solving, and the ability to operate under strict timelines in high-stakes scenarios. This position offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-level safety standards and advance space situational awareness capabilities. This role is performed full-time on site at a government facility and is contingent upon contract award.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Lead the design, development, and validation of collision avoidance algorithms and decision-support tools.
  • Perform conjunction assessments using industry-standard and proprietary models to evaluate collision risk.
  • Coordinate with mission operations teams to plan and execute avoidance maneuvers.
  • Analyze orbital data and propagate trajectories to predict potential conjunctions.
  • Develop and maintain documentation for collision avoidance processes, including risk thresholds and maneuver protocols.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and analysts.
  • Interface with external organizations (e.g., government agencies, commercial partners) for data exchange and coordination.
  • Support anomaly resolution and post-event analysis for conjunction-related incidents.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for automation and accuracy in collision avoidance systems.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable standards, regulations, and best practices for space safety

Required Qualifications:

  • Education & Experience: Master’s degree and 11 years of relevant experience with demonstrated expertise, OR Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of relevant experience with demonstrated expertise, OR No degree and 14 years of relevant experience with demonstrated expertise.
  • Demonstrated expertise in orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, or related aerospace engineering disciplines.
  • Proficiency with conjunction assessment tools and orbital propagation software (e.g., STK, FreeFlyer, or equivalent).
  • Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance with adjudicated polygraph

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with automated collision avoidance systems and large-scale space traffic management.
  • Familiarity with international space safety standards and coordination protocols (e.g., CCSDS, ISO).

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.

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.