Senior Operational Psychologist (Supporting NASA at Johnson Space Center)

Title:

Senior Operational Psychologist (Supporting NASA at Johnson Space Center)

At KBR, we deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 85 countries and operations in over 28 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results.

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. Our people work at the frontier of what is possible, delivering solutions in challenging environments and advancing some of the world's highest-priority national security and space missions.

Backed by decades of mission success, deep expertise, and trusted partnerships, Trinzic will launch as a global organization with more than 18,000 employees supporting customers around the world. Join us at a defining moment and help shape the future of a company built to tackle complex challenges and make a meaningful impact.

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.

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What You’ll Do:

The purpose of this position is to provide a wide range of applied psychological services for NASA JSC's Space Medicine Operations Division. This position is to support ongoing operations for the ISS and Artemis missions, and is a general operational psychology position within Behavioral Health and Performance (Operations) group. Services are provided to astronauts (including former astronauts), astronaut candidates, their families and to key mission personnel. The incumbent will perform job responsibilities in coordination with NASA's Civil Service Operational Psychologists. The incumbent will provide International Space Station mission support as required, and assist preparations for astronaut applicant screening and astronaut candidate training. This position also will provide services to key mission personnel and other ground-based personnel, as needed.

In this role you will provide a wide range of operational psychology services in an applied, operational setting to help NASA achieve its goals for human spaceflight missions. You will perform this work in the Behavioral Health & Performance (BHP) Operations group at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Operational mission environments for which you will perform your work include Low Earth Orbit (e.g., ISS and Commercial programs), Moon Base, Artemis Programs, Human Research Program and spaceflight analogs. Services are provided to astronauts, astronaut candidates, astronaut applicants and their families and for other mission critical personnel. You will provide key strategy and leadership for operational assessment projects critical for informing BHP work for future spaceflight and planetary missions.

You will work on a highly collaborative team, coordinating daily with our NASA customer, and interfacing routinely with key stakeholders for BHP Operation’s services, including Space Medicine Division personnel, Flight Operations personnel, Human Research Program, NASA’s commercial partners, external collaborators, international partners.

You will:

• Support developing and implementing the psychological screening tools and activities for astronaut applicants, and on an ongoing basis, assess best practices for improving screening and selection methods.

• Provide leadership in assessing behavioral health and performance countermeasures (e.g., selection, training, support) to psychological and environmental factors which challenge the attainment of health, performance, or mission goals in both spaceflight and spaceflight analog environments.

• Lead collaboration with Human Research Program for operational review and assessment projects to address knowledge gaps, validate approaches, and refine countermeasures from the HRP’s science portfolio

• Provide consultation on pre-flight psychological training and preparation of ISS and Artemis crewmembers and families; in-flight monitoring and support of crewmembers' behavioral health, well-being and performance; implementation of in-flight monitoring and countermeasures and post-flight repatriation and reintegration.

• Provide behavioral health consultations to flight surgeons, managers and key mission and analogue personnel.

• Provide subject matter expertise for training, monitoring, treatments and other methodologies, technologies, and assessments related to behavioral health and performance.

• Contribute to developing operational concepts for NASA's future spaceflight missions, such Moon Base.

• Maintain a learning liaison with other operational psychologists within government and private sectors that support mission analogues to spaceflight.

• Collaborate with and advise internal NASA and external (including ISS and Artemis international partners) research and operations groups and professionals

• Assist the NASA BHP Operations Lead with other duties as assigned to ensure BHP’s efficient and effective operations and responding to requirements and directives

What You Bring:

You bring extensive experience in the clinical practice and research domains that can be applied to behavioral health and performance work toward current and future human spaceflight operations. You use your experience and judgment to assess operational space and analog issues, and develop innovative solutions that will inform NASA’s future spaceflight mission planning, preparation and execution. As a key part of our safety culture, you will comply with KBR’s Safety, Health and Environmental Plan, Quality Plan, and all safety policies and procedures, and complete all assigned training.

Your Qualifications:

REQUIRED:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology from an APA accredited program and completion of an APA accredited internship. Other areas of Applied Psychology may be considered depending upon qualifications.

• 15+ years' experience as an operational or military psychologist

• Licensed, or license eligible, in psychology in Texas.

• Experience in identifying, addressing and intervening in personal, family, environmental, and organizational issues

DESIRED:

• Experience in selecting, training, and providing support of high-performing personnel.

• Experience in evaluating and supporting high-performing individuals in high-risk jobs, as well as assessing applicants for such positions through tests, interviews and behavioral scenarios.

• Experience in analyzing and interpreting data (both qualitative & quantitative) and the use of statistical methods for the development of data-driven solutions to operational problems.

• Prior experience in high tempo, high risk operational environments (e.g. military, aviation, spaceflight or other mission-critical organizations or settings).

• Experience selecting the most appropriate assessment tools for identifying psychosocial, behavioral, and personality factors in candidates based on available psychometrics and research.

Your Skills:

REQUIRED:

• Proficiency with software tools including MS Office, SPSS or R

• Possess intermediate to advanced clinical interviewing and psychodiagnostic skills

• Demonstrated ability to integrate/collaborate across multiple scientific or operational disciplines

• Skilled at diplomacy/relationship building and communication

• Demonstrated interpersonal effectiveness and professionalism in working with others in a collaborative, multidisciplinary, team-oriented environment

• Ability to be flexible and adapt quickly to changing requirements

• Ability to complete tasks independently or as part of a team to the meet the NASA customer's standards with minimal direction

DESIRED:

• Possess a broad understanding of behavioral health and performance outcomes for individuals to function effectively in extreme or dynamic operational environments.

• Proven ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences, including operational personnel, their families, and various levels of management, internationals, scientists, medical professionals and engineers.

What to Expect

This position is expected to be 100% on site and a minimum of 60% in person. Occasional travel may be required.

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 an 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 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 New | KBR (https://careers.kbr.com/us/en/kbr-benefits)

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBRAt 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.