High Energy Laser Facility Manager

About the role

The High Energy Laser Facility Manager is responsible for the overall operation, maintenance, safety, security, quality, and continuous improvement of facilities supporting the development, integration, production, and testing of advanced High Energy Laser (HEL) systems. This position leads facility operations across engineering laboratories, integration bays, production areas, laser test facilities, and supporting infrastructure while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, security, quality management, and operational requirements.

The Facility Manager will work closely with engineering, production, environmental health and safety (EHS), security, quality, and program leadership to maintain operational readiness and support mission-critical activities. This role requires a strong understanding of technical facilities, power and thermal infrastructure, laboratory operations, production environments, and defense industry requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of facilities supporting High Energy Laser system development, integration, production, and testing.
• Lead facility planning, maintenance, upgrades, and infrastructure improvement projects.
• Ensure operational readiness of laboratories, integration facilities, production spaces, and test areas.
• Oversee facility systems including electrical distribution, backup power, HVAC, chilled water, thermal management equipment, compressed air systems, and specialized laboratory infrastructure.
• Coordinate facility requirements to support engineering, manufacturing, integration, and test activities.
• Manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs for facility equipment and infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with laser safety requirements, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, security policies, and company procedures.
• Support implementation and management of facility safety programs, emergency response planning, and hazard mitigation activities.
• Coordinate facility modifications, construction projects, equipment installations, and contractor activities.
• Develop and manage facility budgets, capital investments, maintenance planning, and resource allocation.
• Support audits, inspections, customer visits, security reviews, and regulatory assessments.
• Collaborate with program managers and engineering teams to identify facility requirements for current and future programs.
• Manage facility access controls, security coordination, and operational procedures supporting classified and sensitive activities.
• Establish and maintain facility metrics related to safety, utilization, maintenance, operational performance, and continuous improvement.
• Lead facility personnel, contractors, and support staff to ensure safe and efficient operations.
• Ensure facility operations support compliance with AS9100 quality management requirements, including process discipline, configuration control, audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities.
• Support business growth initiatives by planning facility expansion, modernization, and infrastructure scalability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Industrial Technology, Construction Management, Operations Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience managing technical, manufacturing, laboratory, test, or defense-related facilities.
• Experience overseeing facility operations, maintenance programs, and infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of facility systems including electrical power distribution, HVAC systems, cooling infrastructure, mechanical systems, and industrial utilities.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, service providers, and facility resources.
• Familiarity with OSHA, environmental compliance, safety regulations, and facility risk management processes.
• Experience working within a quality management system (QMS) environment, including compliance with AS9100, ISO 9001, or equivalent aerospace and defense quality standards.
• Familiarity with configuration management, process control, corrective actions, and continuous improvement practices supporting engineering, manufacturing, and test operations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams and contractor support personnel.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to support operations across laboratories, production facilities, and field test environments.
• U.S. Citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting High Energy Laser, directed energy, aerospace, defense, or weapon system programs.
• Knowledge of laser laboratories, laser safety requirements, and electro-optical test facilities.
• Experience managing facilities that support engineering development, integration, manufacturing, and production operations.
• Familiarity with high-power electrical systems, power generation equipment, energy storage systems, and thermal management infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience managing facilities, laboratories, production operations, or manufacturing environments operating under AS9100 Quality Management System (QMS) requirements.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 processes including internal audits, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), configuration management, nonconformance management, risk-based thinking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience supporting AS9100 certification audits and maintaining compliance within aerospace, defense, or advanced technology organizations.
• Experience supporting classified facilities and secure government operations.
• Knowledge of facility requirements for test ranges, environmental testing, and systems integration laboratories.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Project Management Professional (PMP), or equivalent.
• Experience supporting DoD customers, government laboratories, or defense contractors.
• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
• Demonstrated experience leading facility expansion, modernization, or capital improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• 401K plan with company match
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D
• Flexible spending account
• Disability coverage
• Paid time off
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional training and development for career advancement

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.