Ground Software Systems Architect
About The Position
The Ground Software Systems Architect defines, designs, integrates, validates, and delivers secure, mission-critical ground software systems supporting advanced space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on technical leadership role serves as the ground software systems architecture lead for a key customer program, translating mission requirements and operational challenges into scalable, resilient, secure software and enterprise solutions across classified computing environments. The role leads technical strategy, architecture, integration, and execution throughout the program lifecycle while working with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity, and mission engineering teams, as well as government stakeholders. The architect owns complex technical challenges, leads multidisciplinary teams, communicates with technical and nontechnical stakeholders, and drives solutions from initial customer needs through operational deployment. The position is based on-site in Umbra’s Reston, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; or Santa Barbara/Goleta, California office. 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.
- 10 or more years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.
- Strong understanding of space-to-ground software architectures, including spacecraft and ground interfaces, ground communications, mission operations, and ground software integration with broader space mission systems.
- Experience as a technical lead or architect, owning architectural decisions, coordinating engineering execution, and driving complex technical initiatives through delivery.
- Demonstrated experience architecting, developing, integrating, and delivering mission-critical ground software or systems for 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.
- Plan and execute system integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities 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 operational needs into technical requirements and solutions, and communicate architectural decisions, risks, and tradeoffs.
- Present technical solutions at customer reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.
- Collaborate with engineering teams, program management, and customer organizations to resolve technical challenges, maintain alignment, and deliver integrated solutions.
- Apply software systems engineering best practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, automation, and modern deployment pipelines to support mission-ready ground capabilities.
- Own architectural decisions, coordinate engineering execution, and drive technical initiatives through delivery.
Benefits
- Flexible Time Off, sick, family, and 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 a 3% non-elective company contribution
- Stock options
- Free parking
- Free lunch in the office daily
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
