Junior Systems Engineer

KBR • Kihei, HI

1d • $77,000 - $100,000

About The Position

The Junior Systems Engineer will support the design, development, integration, verification, deployment, operation, and long-term maintenance of a geographically distributed network of Raven-class small-aperture telescope systems for Space Domain Awareness (SDA). The role combines hands-on work with physical telescope systems and software used to command, control, and monitor them. Work includes designing mechanical adapters and interfaces, conducting camera studies and system burn-in, and installing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and sustaining systems at laboratory facilities and fielded observatory sites. Deployment work may take place at high-altitude locations such as Haleakalā Mountain and other remote locations as required.

The engineer will work with a team developing and sustaining advanced SDA capabilities. Duties span system hardware and software across the system lifecycle, including integration and test, operational support, performance assessment, field deployment, and sustainment. The role also supports system-level analysis, test planning, verification, and delivery of telescope capabilities to customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline; additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• 0–3 years of related experience.
• Strong technical background in modern guidance, estimation, and control applied to aerospace systems.
• Capability to perform research and development of advanced telescope systems for space exploration applications.
• Understanding of Python, C/C++, and Linux shell scripting, with the ability to write code supporting telescope-system testing, integration, deployment, and operations.
• Experience wiring power and communications data lines, including Ethernet, Camera Link, USB, 120 V and 240 V power, and fiber-optic cables.
• Familiarity with software build systems and packages such as CMake, UV, PIP, Visual Studio, GCC, or Clang.
• Ability to troubleshoot software issues during development, testing, integration, and operations.
• Mechanical design and measurement skills for creating 3D-printed telescope beam-train components for rapid prototyping.
• Knowledge of telescope focus and the ability to create mating interfaces for sensors, filter wheels, focusers, extenders, and other optical components.
• Team-oriented approach and effective leadership, communication, interpersonal, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel to remote locations for deployments, maintenance, upgrades, and replacements.
• Ability to handle power and manual tools and to work carefully with fragile electronic and optical equipment.
• Experience developing software to control, monitor, and automate laboratories or fielded hardware systems.
• Experience writing analysis or diagnostic software to assess system performance using telemetry or image data.
• Familiarity with real-time or near-real-time control loops for motion, pointing, or focus control.
• Experience interfacing software with cameras, motion controllers, sensors, and networking hardware.

Nice To Haves

• Willingness and ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
• Strong technology development background.
• Experience developing instrument or optical pointing systems and integrated hardware and software systems.
• Experience working with detectors and high-rate control systems.
• Experience designing autonomous systems and autonomy for tasking, collection, processing, and dissemination.

Responsibilities

• Perform engineering work to develop operable systems that meet requirements within mass, cost, schedule, and other constraints.
• Design or research subsystem interfaces to integrate subsystems into a complete system.
• Conduct functional analysis to assess performance against criteria and mission constraints, and provide results to subsystem development teams.
• Prepare design sketches and general equipment designs for simple parts, subsystem interfaces, and system layouts.
• Perform engineering and mathematical computations and analyze technical data from tests, studies, and analyses.
• Assist technical personnel in preparing reports, graphs, and charts.
• Participate as a member of an engineering team, with the immediate supervisor as the primary contact.
• Operate, maintain, and sustain a geographically distributed network of small-aperture telescope systems in operational environments.
• Troubleshoot and repair optical, mechanical, electrical, and software components to restore functionality and performance.
• Support field deployment, alignment, calibration, and commissioning of telescope systems.
• Diagnose system-level performance degradation and identify corrective maintenance or software updates.
• Perform preventive maintenance to maximize system uptime and operational availability.
• Maintain configuration control of hardware, firmware, and software across deployed systems.
• Support remote operations, monitoring, and fault response for unattended telescope assets.
• Conceive, design, analyze, simulate, oversee, and assess telescope-system-level performance.
• Support delivery of complex algorithms and software to system integration and test.
• Develop and implement detailed subsystem test and verification plans.
• Validate and document system performance before delivery to customers.
• Travel to remote deployment locations for maintenance, upgrades, and replacement of computer hardware, collection hardware, and networking equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance and AD&D
• Flexible spending account
• Disability benefits
• Paid time off
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional training and development
• Potential sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, short-term incentives, long-term incentives, or discretionary performance payments

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level