Job Description

Umbra builds next-generation space systems that observe the Earth in unprecedented fidelity.

Our mission is to deliver global omniscience.

To stay ahead of climate change, geopolitical risk, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast. Umbra provides easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, which is an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth. We empower our customers to create the solutions that inform, inspire, and address our planet’s most pressing needs. We’re helping to create a brand new industry that has never meaningfully existed before.

Are you in?

We are on the hunt for a dynamic Mission Systems Engineer to join Umbra’s Mission Solutions team. In this pivotal role, you'll collaborate closely with the Program Manager and Chief Engineer to drive effective scoping and resourcing, ensure technical excellence, and achieve mission success for our various Mission Solutions programs. Your responsibilities will encompass early mission analysis, defining and breaking down mission requirements, conducting trade studies, and overseeing mission assurance, verification, and validation activities. You will play a crucial role in maintaining technical excellence throughout all program phases. By working across the company, you'll help align program needs with our capabilities, providing insightful recommendations to company leadership as needed. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable in spacecraft systems engineering, mission-oriented, a strong communicator, adaptable, and eager to tackle complex challenges.

Our aim is to hire this position to work in Umbra's Arlington, VA, or Santa Barbara, CA (moving to Goleta, CA in June 2025) office. 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for programs within the Mission Solutions portfolio, ensuring technical excellence in all elements of the program.
• Work with customers and mission architects to understand mission requirements and ensure they are documented in a rigorous way (including a verification & validation plan), and help to decompose them across the rest of the technical teams.
• Lead development of technical CDRL artifacts, such as ICDs
• Work with the Program Manager and other Umbra leadership to ensure programs are resourced appropriately and set up for success.
• Define and lead trade studies to determine the most effective architecture for the overall system.
• Lead all mission assurance activities for the program and manage program technical risks.
• Other professional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of mission-level space systems engineering experience.
• Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering, Physics or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical programs.
• Strong space systems engineering background.
• Strong understanding of National ISR collection systems and fresh ideas about how Umbra will contribute to critical U.S. Government missions.
• Strong interpersonal ability, able to interact effectively with customers, staff, and other program stakeholders.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced development environment.
• Current TS/SCI clearance or the ability to attain one.

Desired Qualifications

• Extensive experience working with U.S. Government DoD, IC and Civil customers, specifically NRO and USSF.
• Extensive experience with international partner nation remote sensing systems (commercial, state sponsored and national).
• Extensive experience with SAR, RF, and other remote sensing missions.
• Experience with distributed space systems consisting of a constellation of many spacecraft.
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and architecture modeling practices, tools and frameworks (e.g. SysML, DoDAF).
• INCOSE certification or equivalent.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock Options
• Free parking
• Free lunch in office daily

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal laws, all hired persons will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) upon hire.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. 

Pay Transparency
This job posting may cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $150,000 - $175,000.

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