Title:

NEON Senior Program Manager

BELONG. CONNECT. GROW. with KBR.

Around here, we define the future. We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely.

The NEON Senior Program Manager is a senior project management leadership position requiring extensive space flight hardware procurement and management experience.

***Must be a U.S. Citizen***

This role includes:

• Team Leadership
• Developing, reviewing, editing, and finalizing program and project-level documentation, including:
  • Plans, processes, requirements
  • Procurement strategies
  • Implementation and staffing plans
  • Budget and cost phasing plans
  • Cost estimates and schedules

The position involves leading a multidisciplinary team to implement Department, Agency, Center, Program, and Project management vision as acquisition approaches transition for reimbursable NASA and NOAA efforts.

As a deputy role, it requires routine presentations and discussions with senior leaders across multiple agencies. Strong writing and editing skills are essential to convey complex ideas clearly and appropriately for diverse audiences.

Additional requirements include independent thought, respectful discourse, and strong problem-solving skills related to LEO mission development and project management across the full project lifecycle.

Executive-Level Responsibilities

• Operates at an executive program leadership level, providing technical authority and driving mission strategy.
• Serves as a key interface with senior NASA and NOAA leadership.
• Supports long-range planning, program integration, and mission-critical decision-making across the NEON mission lifecycle.
• Guides technical, schedule, and risk direction, overseeing cross-organizational activities spanning flight systems, ground systems, instrument systems, and launch readiness.

Specific Duties

• Lead project teams, meetings, and initiatives as assigned by the project manager.
• Represent the project manager in their absence.
• Support development of budgets, estimates, phasing profiles, procurement strategies, requirements, risk management, and contingency planning.
• Provide milestone review planning, leadership, and presentation development.
• Deliver engineering services for mission formulation, development, and fielding, integrating flight, ground, instrument, and launch systems.
• Lead studies for spacecraft, instruments, and ground systems.
• Conduct hardware/software design trade-off analyses and develop preliminary cost and schedule estimates.
• Support strategic planning, process definition, and integration of joint missions and partnerships.
• Lead research, science, technology, programmatic, and cost trade studies.
• Develop candidate system architectures and risk assessments.
• Support outreach activities and provide management services.

Additional Executive Duties

• Provide financial stewardship of NEON Series 1 program as Deputy PM, including cost forecasting and resource alignment.
• Manage engineering teams and subcontractors, guiding technical efforts across mission development.
• Represent KBR in major Agency-level reviews (MCRs, SDR/PDR/CDR, KDPs).
• Serve as co-POC for NEON contract deliverables and customer reporting.
• Influence program-level decisions related to launch readiness, mission assurance, and spaceflight hardware planning.
• Lead multi-year strategic planning for NEON, including modernization roadmaps and technology infusion plans.
• Support KBR capture and proposal efforts as a technical SME.
• Supervise KBR staff and provide leadership-through-influence to partner organizations and subcontractors.
• Exercise delegated authority to recommend and guide technical, cost, schedule, and risk direction.

Background & Experience

• Bachelor of Science required
• Experience with microwave sounders required
• Experience with NOAA-NASA reimbursable programs required
• 20 years of space flight hardware procurement experience required
• NOAA, NASA, or DoD experience desired
• Experience with NPP, NPOESS, and JPSS desired
• ***Must be a U.S. Citizen***

Basic Compensation:

$211,600.00 - $317,400.00

The offered rate will be based on contract affordability and the selected candidate's working location, knowledge, skills, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.

Experience and/or Education in lieu of these qualifications will be reviewed for applicability to meet these requirements.

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.​

Click here to learn more:  KBR Benefits

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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.