SATCOM Senior Systems Engineer (Modem)

Location: San Diego, California, Newport, Rhode Island

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Title:

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.

The Senior Wideband Anti-Jam Modem (WAM) Systems Engineer will serve as the program’s senior technical authority for modem architecture, waveform integration, and anti-jam system performance supporting the government Lead Engineer. This role carries significant technical responsibility — driving architectural conversations and implementation decisions, establishing systems engineering standards, requirements, and representing the governments technical position to various vendors and other government organizations.

The WAM provides wideband protected SATCOM access with integrated anti-jam capability, leveraging both the protected tactical waveform (PTW) and direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), frequency hopping, and low probability of intercept and detection (LPI/LPD) waveform techniques to support reliable communications in contested and congested electromagnetic environments. The senior engineer will own the modem technical baseline requirements definition through design, integration, verification, and fielding, applying deep domain expertise in waveform theory, and platform communications architecture.

This is a highly visible, technically demanding role requiring the independent ability to evaluate complex modem and RF subsystem performance, lead multi-disciplinary technical trades, and provide technically credible oversight of vendor design and test execution. The ideal candidate brings extensive hands-on experience in protected waveform development, spread spectrum system integration, and DoD ACAT program leadership, and is comfortable engaging senior Government leadership at Flag or SES level.

• Lead the definition and maintenance of the WAM system technical baseline, including modem hardware architecture, waveform interface specifications, anti-jam performance requirements, and system-level performance objectives

• Direct systems engineering execution across all program phases: requirements analysis and decomposition, design oversight, integration planning, verification, and operational test support

• Evaluate the vendors technical position during formal Government design reviews, TRRs, SVRs, and program management reviews, including review of engineering analysis packages and compliance documentation

• Evaluate and guide implementation of anti-jam waveform features including DSSS, frequency hopping, assessing performance against jam resistance, LPI/LPD, and operational link margin requirements

• Lead link budget development, jam-to-signal ratio analysis, interference margin assessment, and RF chain performance modeling for wideband anti-jam operational scenarios

• Provide technical oversight of FPGA-based and SoC-based modem hardware implementation, reviewing hardware/software partitioning decisions and DSP algorithm integration for waveform processing functions

• Define and review system and interface specifications governing WAM integration into platform communications architectures, including ICDs for RF, IF, networking, and control plane interfaces

• Lead technical risk identification and mitigation planning across waveform, RF, digital baseband, and platform integration domains; brief risk posture and mitigation strategies to program leadership and Government customers

• Serve as the primary technical representative for Government program offices; prepare and deliver senior leadership technical briefings to Flag-level and SES-level audiences

• Mentor mid-level and junior systems engineers, establish technical review processes, and enforce program engineering standards consistent with the Engineering Management Plan (EMP)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline; Master of Science or Ph.D. preferred but not required

• 10+ years of relevant systems engineering experience in defense communications programs, with demonstrated technical depth in modem, waveform, or RF subsystem development

• Demonstrated leadership of systems engineering teams or technical working groups on DoD acquisition programs, including direct accountability for technical performance and schedule

• Deep working knowledge of spread spectrum techniques including DSSS and frequency hopping, and their application to anti-jam, LPI/LPD operational requirements

• Strong foundation in digital communications theory including modulation, coding, synchronization, detection, and interference analysis as applied to protected SATCOM systems

• Experience leading or overseeing modem integration into platform communications architectures across RF, IF, baseband, and network interface layers

• Experience conducting link budget analysis, jam-to-signal ratio analysis, and Electronic Communication Counter Measures (ECCM) effectiveness assessment for protected wideband waveforms

• Direct experience on FPGA or SoC-based modem development programs, including review of hardware/software partitioning and DSP algorithm implementation

• Experience leading or independently executing DoD acquisition design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR), including preparation of contractor technical packages and compliance matrices

• Experience preparing and delivering technical briefings to senior Government customers at O-6 equivalent or SES-level

• Familiarity with ITAR and export control requirements governing protected communications systems and anti-jam waveform technologies

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience on WAM, AC2, A3M, or comparable anti-jam protected wideband modem or waveform development programs

• Experience with MILSATCOM protected waveforms, including EHF waveform, Advanced EHF (AEHF) modem architectures, or TRANSEC implementation

• Experience interfacing with PEO Space, NAVWAR, or SMC program offices in a senior technical representative capacity

• Experience with ECCM test and evaluation methodologies and interference vulnerability assessment in operationally representative environments

• Experience reviewing or contributing to FPGA modem implementations in VHDL, Verilog, or equivalent HDL

• Familiarity with JITC certification processes and associated test and evaluation requirements for protected Government communications systems

Work Environment:

• Location: San Diego, CA or Newport, RI
• Working Hours: 40 hours per week
• Up to 25% travel required

Basic Compensation: 

$140-160k

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 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.

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

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.