Title:
Maritime Robotic and Autonomous Systems Test Director
At KBR, we deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 85 countries and operations in over 28 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results.
Trinzic is the future independent company to be created through the planned spin-off of KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business, expected in January 2027. Our people work at the frontier of what is possible, delivering solutions in challenging environments and advancing some of the world's highest-priority national security and space missions.
Backed by decades of mission success, deep expertise, and trusted partnerships, Trinzic will launch as a global organization with more than 18,000 employees supporting customers around the world. Join us at a defining moment and help shape the future of a company built to tackle complex challenges and make a meaningful impact.
Candidates who join KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business before the spin-off will transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete and will not need to reapply for employment.
KBR provides engineering, test, flight operations, and technical support to Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) and its supported developmental test organizations. We are seeking an experienced developmental test professional to support NTWL's emerging maritime autonomous systems test mission at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. This position will help establish and mature NTWL's capability to plan, execute, analyze, and report developmental testing of unmanned autonomous maritime systems, including unmanned surface vessels (USVs), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and associated autonomous maritime systems.
As the Maritime Robotic and Autonomous Systems Test Director you will serve as the initial site and project lead for an emerging maritime developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) capability supporting Naval Test Wing Atlantic. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate and former developmental test Project Officer to apply proven flight-test leadership, judgment, and processes to a rapidly evolving mission area. Rather than performing traditional flight duties, the selected candidate will lead the planning and execution of developmental testing involving unmanned and autonomous maritime vehicles and systems.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Initially serving as the lead KBR representative for this effort, the selected candidate will work closely with Government leadership to define test requirements, develop processes, identify technical and staffing needs, and establish the framework for future maritime DT&E support. As the mission grows, this individual will play a central role in building and leading an integrated test team of engineers, operators, analysts, instrumentation specialists, and other technical personnel. This position requires substantial independence, initiative, technical judgment, and leadership. The successful candidate must be comfortable operating in an emerging environment where requirements, processes, team structure, and technical capabilities are still being developed.
- Serve as KBR's on-site Test Director for emerging maritime autonomous systems DT&E activities.
- Lead the planning, coordination, execution, analysis, and reporting of developmental test activities involving USVs, UUVs, autonomous systems, and associated mission equipment.
- Apply established developmental flight-test principles, methods, risk-management practices, and disciplined test processes to the maritime autonomous systems domain.
- Work directly with Government test leadership, program offices, engineers, operators, range personnel, and other stakeholders to define test objectives and develop executable test strategies.
- Develop and review test plans, test procedures, test-point matrices, risk assessments, data requirements, schedules, and technical reports.
- Serve as test conductor or project lead during maritime test events, coordinating personnel, vehicles, instrumentation, range assets, communications, and supporting resources.
- Operate or support operation of unmanned/autonomous maritime vehicles as required to conduct developmental testing.
- Identify requirements for telemetry, tracking, instrumentation, communications, navigation, mission reconstruction, data collection, and other test infrastructure.
- Analyze test results and provide technically sound findings, recommendations, and briefings to Government leadership and program stakeholders.
- Help define the organizational structure, technical disciplines, qualifications, and staffing required to support the developing maritime test mission.
- Support recruiting, technical evaluation, and integration of additional personnel as the KBR maritime DT&E team grows.
- Establish repeatable processes, lessons learned, and test practices that enable the capability to mature from initial project support into an enduring NTWL maritime DT&E capability.
- Provide leadership and technical direction to future KBR team members and, if required by the Government's execution model, support overall leadership of an integrated contractor test team.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or Graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) or equivalent recognized military test pilot school. An additional 12 years of Test and Evaluation experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
- Previous qualification and operational experience as a military pilot or Naval Flight Officer (NFO).
- Previous developmental test tour supporting Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL), Naval Test Wing Pacific (NTWP), or a comparable military flight-test organization.
- Previous experience serving as a Project Officer, Test Project Officer, or equivalent test-team lead for a developmental test program.
- Demonstrated experience planning, executing, analyzing, and reporting developmental testing of complex military systems.
- Demonstrated leadership experience coordinating multidisciplinary test teams and working directly with Government program and engineering organizations.
- Ability and willingness to learn and operate unmanned surface and/or underwater vehicles as required in support of test activities.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. U.S. citizenship required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading complex developmental test programs from test planning through execution, analysis, and final reporting.
- Experience with unmanned or autonomous systems.
- Experience with UAS, UGV, USV, UUV, robotics, remotely operated systems, or advanced autonomy.
- Familiarity with maritime test operations, surface or subsurface ranges, telemetry, instrumentation, tracking, navigation, or data acquisition systems.
- Experience establishing a new test program, capability, team, or organizational process.
- Experience developing staffing requirements, building multidisciplinary teams, and providing technical leadership to engineers, operators, and test specialists.
- Experience interacting with NAVAIR program offices, Naval Warfare Centers, Navy laboratories, or other DoD acquisition and test organizations.
- Master's degree in engineering, systems engineering, test and evaluation, or a related technical field.
Work Environment: Primary work location will be the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland area, to include Webster Outlying Field. This is primarily an on-site position supporting Government test activities. Work may include operations at waterfront facilities, test ranges, aboard support vessels, or at temporary and remote test locations. Travel may be required to support test events and program activities.
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 hours/week.
Compensation: $135,000-$202000. The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate’s location, knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience, contract affordability, 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
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.
