Ground Software Systems Architect

Umbra • Reston, VA

2d • $195,000 - $235,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Ground Software Systems Architect defines, designs, integrates, validates, and delivers secure, mission-critical ground software systems for advanced space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on technical leadership role leads ground software systems architecture for a key customer program, translating mission requirements and operational challenges into scalable, resilient, secure software and enterprise solutions across classified computing environments.

The architect provides technical expertise, systems-level thinking, and customer-facing leadership, with an understanding of space and ground system integration and experience developing and deploying software in classified environments. Working with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity, and mission engineering teams, as well as government stakeholders, the role leads technical strategy, architecture, integration, and execution throughout the program lifecycle. It requires ownership of complex technical challenges, multidisciplinary team leadership, and effective communication with technical and nontechnical stakeholders from initial customer needs through operational deployment.

The position is on-site in Reston, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; or Santa Barbara/Goleta, California. Employees working from the Santa Barbara office should expect 50% or more travel during the first year.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance and ability to maintain access.
• Strong understanding of space-to-ground software architectures, including spacecraft and ground interfaces, ground communications, mission operations, and integration of ground software with broader space mission systems.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or architect, owning architectural decisions, coordinating engineering execution, and driving complex technical initiatives through delivery.
• 10 or more years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.
• Demonstrated experience architecting, developing, integrating, and delivering mission-critical ground software or ground systems supporting IC, DoD, space, ISR, or other national security programs.
• Experience with IT infrastructure and network integration, including secure networking, virtualization, storage, servers, and enterprise computing environments.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, event-driven microservices, interface design, and automated testing practices.
• Systems engineering experience leading system integration, verification, validation, operational testing, and requirements decomposition for complex ground systems.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Python or C/C++.
• U.S. citizenship is required for positions requiring an active U.S. Government security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience supporting ISR, SAR, or other space-based intelligence collection missions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams and government stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise IT hardware, including servers, networking equipment, storage appliances, and virtualization platforms.
• Experience developing and implementing COMSEC plans, key management, and secure communications requirements.
• Strong understanding of RED/BLACK architectures, secure system boundary design, cross-domain considerations, and classified network security principles.
• Experience with automated integration and test frameworks, scripting, and laboratory development.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes/Docker containerized services, DevSecOps practices, Infrastructure as Code, and modern software deployment pipelines.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, or NRO space programs.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop end-to-end architectures for mission-critical ground systems, ensuring scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions.
• Lead system integration, verification, validation, and operational test planning and execution to ensure systems meet mission, performance, cybersecurity, and operational requirements.
• Design and implement secure computing environments, including COMSEC, RED/BLACK architectures, cross-domain interfaces, classified networking, containerized services, virtualization, storage, and enterprise IT infrastructure.
• Serve as a primary technical interface with government customers and stakeholders; translate customer challenges and operational needs into technical requirements and solutions.
• Communicate architectural decisions, risks, and tradeoffs, navigate stakeholder environments, and present technical solutions at SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR reviews.
• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams, program management, and customer organizations to resolve challenges, maintain alignment, and deliver integrated solutions.
• Collaborate across engineering teams to deliver mission-ready ground capabilities using systems engineering best practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, automation, and modern software deployment pipelines.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Employer-funded medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, and STD coverage
• Employee-funded voluntary life, critical illness, accidental, hospital indemnity, and pet insurance
• 401(k) with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock options
• Free parking
• Free lunch in office daily

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior