Chief Technical Advisor - Aviation & Ground Systems

KBR•Sterling Heights, MI

11d

About The Position

KBR is seeking an accomplished Chief Technical Advisor to provide senior technical leadership across its Aviation and Ground Systems portfolio, supporting business growth, program execution, customer engagement, and technical excellence. Reporting to senior business leadership, the advisor serves as a trusted resource to Program Managers, Chief Engineers, business developers, capture managers, and customers. The role provides strategic technical direction across the system lifecycle, from concept development and engineering through integration, testing, production, sustainment, modernization, and readiness. At the executive level, the advisor influences technical strategy, customer relationships, capability development, and solution generation for current and future defense programs. The role also represents KBR with government, OEM, and industry stakeholders and helps shape the company's long-term technical vision. KBR's Missile, Aviation, and Ground Systems division delivers mission engineering solutions for critical U.S. Army programs, including aviation and ground systems, integrated air and missile defense, and threat and target systems. Candidates joining KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business before its planned spin-off, expected in January 2027, will transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete and will not need to reapply.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
20 or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting defense acquisition, engineering, modernization, integration, or sustainment programs.
Demonstrated technical leadership supporting military aviation, combat vehicle, tactical vehicle, C5ISR, or weapon system programs.
Experience influencing technical decisions across multiple organizations and stakeholders.
Deep understanding of systems engineering principles and full-lifecycle program execution.
Familiarity with configuration management, product lifecycle management, digital engineering, and sustainment planning.
Experience engaging directly with senior government, military, and industry leadership.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Nice To Haves

Active Secret clearance.
Experience supporting Army PEOs, PMs, TACOM, DEVCOM, Army Aviation, or Ground Combat Systems organizations.
Experience with platform modernization programs, vehicle integration, avionics integration, software-intensive systems, or mission systems.
Expertise in DMSMS, sustainment engineering, technology insertion, or lifecycle management.
Experience supporting proposal development, capture activities, and business growth initiatives.
Professional Engineering registration or equivalent professional credentials.
Advanced degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Business.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior technical authority for aviation, ground vehicle, and defense systems initiatives.
Advise executives, program managers, and chief engineers on technical strategy, modernization roadmaps, and customer priorities.
Guide technical solution development for complex engineering, sustainment, integration, and modernization challenges.
Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to enhance warfighter capability and customer outcomes.
Support development of long-range technology investment and capability roadmaps.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with Army, Department of War, OEM, and industry stakeholders.
Represent KBR at customer meetings, technical reviews, industry events, and senior leadership engagements.
Communicate KBR's capabilities, differentiators, and innovations as a technical ambassador.
Advise customers on engineering, sustainment, modernization, and lifecycle management strategies.
Provide independent technical assessments of program risk, schedule, scope, performance, and technical approach.
Support major program reviews, milestone decisions, readiness assessments, and technical issue resolution.
Guide systems engineering, integration, verification, production transition, and sustainment activities across multiple programs.
Assist program teams in resolving complex technical issues affecting execution.
Partner with business development and capture teams to shape opportunities and influence acquisition strategies.
Support proposal development, technical volumes, solution architecture, and customer engagement activities.
Participate in strategic capture reviews and technical gate assessments.
Identify and mature new business opportunities aligned with customer priorities.
Promote engineering rigor, configuration management discipline, systems thinking, and lifecycle best practices.
Advise teams on digital engineering, model-based approaches, configuration management, DMSMS, and product lifecycle management.
Mentor engineers, chief engineers, program managers, and technical leaders.
Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.