Position Summary
KBR is seeking a highly motivated and experienced UI/UX Software Engineer V to lead the design and development of modern web-based applications that support the Department of the Air Force’s advanced air platform testing, analysis, and rapid development efforts. This role blends frontend technical leadership, user experience design, and product development to deliver intuitive, high-performance simulation and mission-focused applications.
Successful candidates have a track record of shipping production-grade web applications, making frontend architecture decisions, and working closely with users, designers, and engineers to translate complex requirements into outstanding user experiences.
Key Responsibilities / Goals
- Lead frontend architecture and technical strategy across multiple web-based products and simulation applications.
- Design and develop modern single-page applications using contemporary frontend frameworks and UI engineering best practices.
- Collaborate with engineers, analysts, and stakeholders to shape product direction and refine requirements in ambiguous problem areas.
- Translate user needs into intuitive workflows, wireframes, prototypes, and production-ready interfaces.
- Define and maintain frontend coding standards, reusable component libraries, and UI design patterns.
- Break high-level product concepts into prioritized, scoped, and executable engineering work.
- Drive usability, accessibility, responsiveness, and overall user experience quality across applications.
- Partner with backend engineers to integrate APIs and manage complex application state.
- Mentor and coach frontend engineers on code quality, design sensibility, and engineering best practices.
- Review and provide technical guidance on frontend implementations, architecture, testing, and performance optimization.
- Ensure applications are thoroughly tested using modern testing frameworks and automated validation strategies.
- Contribute to long-term technology roadmaps and continuous improvement of engineering processes.
Core Technical Skills
- Strong understanding of UI/UX principles, visual hierarchy, interaction design, accessibility, and usability.
- Expert-level JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Modern frontend development using Vue, React, or equivalent frameworks.
- Frontend architecture, component design, and application scalability.
- State management and API integration strategies.
- User-centered design and rapid prototyping methodologies.
- Test automation using Vitest, Jest, Playwright, or similar frameworks.
- Performance optimization and responsive design techniques.
- Technical leadership, architectural decision-making, and engineering mentorship.
- Ability to decompose complex product ideas into actionable engineering deliverables.
Work Environment
- Location: Hybrid (3 days in office)
- Travel Requirements: Minimal 0-20%
- Working Hours: Standard/Flexible
Qualifications
Required:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering, Design, or related field.
- Experience: 10+ years developing web applications with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Frontend Development: 8+ years developing applications using modern frontend frameworks such as Vue or React.
- UI/UX Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading frontend technical decisions and influencing product direction.
- Application Delivery: Proven track record delivering and maintaining production-scale web applications.
- Security Clearance: Active DoD Secret clearance (or higher).
- Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Work Style: Ability to thrive in environments with evolving requirements and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
Desired:
- Experience developing simulation, modeling, visualization, or mission planning applications.
- Experience defining frontend architecture for complex enterprise or defense software systems.
- Experience with design tools such as Figma, Affinity Designer, Adobe Photoshop, or similar.
- Experience creating design systems, component libraries, and UI style guides.
- Deep understanding of state management patterns and API integration.
- Experience with testing frameworks such as Vitest, Jest, Playwright, or Cypress.
- Background in aerospace, defense, mission systems, digital engineering, or modeling and simulation.
- Experience balancing user-centered design principles with technical and operational constraints.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and lead frontend communities of practice.
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. The company supports career advancement through professional training and development.
Additional Company Notes
Trinzic is the future independent company to be created through the planned spin-off of KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions business, expected in January 2027. Candidates who join KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions business before the spin-off will transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete and will not need to reapply for employment.
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.
