Chief Technologist, Directed Energy Systems

About the role

Kord, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR, is seeking an experienced Chief Technologist to lead the Directed Energy Systems Program. This role provides technical leadership across a portfolio of programs, guiding system architectures, resolving complex technical challenges, and maturing critical technologies.

Responsibilities

• Partner with company technical and business leadership to define and execute technology roadmaps aligned with customer needs and strategic objectives.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight across multiple directed energy and advanced technology programs.
• Support development of system architectures, technology strategies, and engineering approaches for current and future products.
• Lead technical assessments, trade studies, and independent design evaluations.
• Identify technical risks, technology gaps, and opportunities for innovation and product differentiation.
• Provide subject matter expertise across a family of directed energy systems and supporting technologies.
• Support program teams during requirements development, design reviews, integration activities, troubleshooting efforts, and customer engagements.
• Assist engineering teams in resolving complex system-level challenges involving performance, reliability, manufacturability, SWaP-C, and operational effectiveness.
• Support development and transition of technologies from research and prototyping into deployable products.
• Guide development of system architectures with particular emphasis on power generation, power distribution, energy storage, thermal management, and system integration.
• Evaluate system performance, efficiency, reliability, and operational constraints.
• Contribute to development of scalable solutions applicable across multiple products and platforms.
• Ensure sound systems engineering practices are applied throughout the product lifecycle.
• Mentor systems, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers across the organization.
• Foster engineering excellence and disciplined problem-solving.
• Support technical workforce development and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding technical talent.
• Participate in customer meetings, technical reviews, demonstrations, and strategic discussions.
• Support business development efforts through technical solution development, proposal reviews, and customer engagement.
• Help communicate technical vision and capabilities to customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of experience developing complex defense, aerospace, energy, or advanced technology systems.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering organizations.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and system architecture development.
• Experience supporting programs through design, integration, testing, and fielding.
• Ability to influence technical direction across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.