Small UAS Engine Engineer

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.

• →Provide engineering and technical support for small piston engines used in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), supporting Air Force System Program Office (SPO) activities across development, production, test, and sustainment.
• →Perform in‑office technical support to Program Managers (PMs), engineers, and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), including propulsion engineering analysis, requirements traceability, technical documentation review, and issue tracking.
• →Support coordination activities with prime contractors, UAS manufacturers, and engine vendors, including review of engine designs, data packages, analyses, and compliance artifacts.
• →Support test and evaluation activities for small piston engines, including test planning support, on‑site test execution support, test data reduction, performance monitoring, durability assessments, and engine anomaly documentation.
• →Participate in program technical forums, including Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), design reviews (PDR/CDR), airworthiness activities, and readiness reviews, supporting preparation of briefings, technical content, and action items.
• →Provide lifecycle and sustainment engineering support, including reliability and maintainability assessments, maintenance concepts, technical order inputs, parts obsolescence tracking, and sustainment planning support.
• →Travel as required to contractor facilities, government test locations, depots, and flight test sites to support propulsion engineering activities, testing, and program execution

• Location: Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 
• Travel Requirements: Minimal, 20-25%, with surge up to 50%
• Working Hours: Standard

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in propulsion, mechanical systems, or related engineering roles, with exposure to small piston engines (UAS, aviation, powersports, or similar applications).
• Demonstrated experience supporting engineering, test, or sustainment activities across development, integration, or operational environments.
• Ability to review and interpret technical documentation, including engine specifications, test reports, engineering drawings, and performance data.
• Experience working in or supporting government program office or defense acquisition environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to support technical meetings, prepare engineering content, and coordinate across teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to ~25% to contractor facilities, government sites, test locations, and depots. Possible surge up to 50%
• Active DoD Secret clearance is required.

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience with small piston aviation engines used in UAS, including 2‑stroke, 4‑stroke, or heavy‑fuel engines.
• Hands‑on experience supporting engine ground test or flight test activities, including test data analysis and anomaly investigation.
• Familiarity with UAS propulsion integration, including fuel systems, cooling, controls, and airframe interfaces.
• Experience supporting DoD acquisition programs, including development, production, or sustainment of airborne systems.
• Knowledge of airworthiness processes, military or civil (e.g., Military Flight Release, FAA concepts applied to UAS).
• Experience with sustainment engineering, including reliability analysis, maintenance concepts, depot support, or obsolescence management.
• Ability to develop and support technical briefings and written products for program reviews, test events, and IPT meetings.
• Prior experience working at test ranges, flight test organizations, or contractor facilities in a field support role.
• Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain SCI/SAP is desired

​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 [Company Name]. Let's shape the future together.