Ground Software Systems Architect

Umbra • Reston, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Umbra is an American space technology company whose Remote Sensing team transforms Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data into actionable insights for national security and intelligence, disaster response, and scientific discovery.

The Ground Software Systems Architect defines, designs, integrates, validates, and delivers secure, mission-critical ground software systems for space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on technical leadership role leads ground software architecture for a key customer program, translating mission requirements and operational challenges into scalable, resilient, and secure software and enterprise solutions across classified computing environments. The architect leads technical strategy, architecture, integration, and execution throughout the program lifecycle, working with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity, mission engineering teams, and government stakeholders.

The position is based on-site in Umbra’s Reston, Virginia; Arlington, Virginia; or Santa Barbara/Goleta, California office. Candidates working from the Santa Barbara office should expect 50% or more travel during the first year. The role requires an active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to maintain access. Compensation is $195,000–$235,000, depending on experience.

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 system 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+ 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 for Intelligence Community, 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.
• Strong 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 supporting space, ISR, and national security missions.
• Plan and execute system integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities to ensure ground 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.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments while balancing technical and programmatic priorities.
• Present technical solutions at customer reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, program management, and customer organizations to resolve technical challenges and deliver integrated solutions.
• Help deliver mission-ready ground capabilities using software systems engineering practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, automation, and modern software deployment pipelines.

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 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