Ground Systems Engineer & Architect Verified today

About Umbra

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems from sensors to spacecraft. The Mission Solutions team builds platforms purpose-built for U.S. and allied defense and intelligence missions, from custom payloads to full-stack spacecraft and constellation infrastructure.

The Role

The Ground Systems Engineer & Architect defines, designs, integrates, and validates secure, mission-critical ground systems supporting advanced space, ISR, and national security missions. You will serve as the ground systems architecture lead, translating mission requirements into scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions across classified computing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect secure end-to-end ground systems for mission-critical space, ISR, and national security applications, ensuring scalability, resilience, and security.
• Plan and execute system integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities to meet mission, performance, cybersecurity, and operational requirements.
• Develop secure computing environments including COMSEC, RED/BLACK architectures, cross-domain interfaces, classified networking, Kubernetes/Docker services, virtualization, storage, and enterprise IT infrastructure.
• Lead technical authority for ground system design, managing requirements development, interface definition, technical trade studies, and presenting solutions at customer reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR).
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver mission-ready ground capabilities using systems engineering best practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, automation, and modern software deployment pipelines.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related technical discipline.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with ability to maintain access.
• 8-12+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.
• Experience designing, architecting, integrating, and verifying mission-critical ground systems supporting Intelligence Community, DoD, space, ISR, or national security programs.
• Experience developing and implementing Communications Security (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 IT infrastructure and network integration, including secure networking, virtualization, storage, servers, and enterprise computing environments.
• Experience developing Kubernetes/Docker containerized services.
• Strong systems engineering experience leading system integration, verification, validation, operational testing, and requirements decomposition for complex ground systems.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 15+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.
• Experience supporting ISR, SAR, or space-based intelligence collection missions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams and government stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, or other programming languages.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise IT hardware including servers, networking equipment, storage appliances, and virtualization platforms.
• Experience with automated integration and test frameworks, scripting, and laboratory development.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, Infrastructure as Code, and modern software deployment pipelines.
• Knowledge of satellite mission operations, TT&C systems, mission planning, or ground data processing architectures.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, or NRO space programs.

Location and Work Arrangement

This position is onsite in Reston, VA or Arlington, VA.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation Range: $195,000 - $235,000 DOE.

• Flexible time off, sick, family and 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