Senior/Staff Flight Software Systems Engineer Verified today
About Umbra
Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems from sensors to spacecraft. The Mission Solutions business unit builds purpose-built platforms for U.S. and allied defense and intelligence missions, including custom payloads, full-stack spacecraft, and constellation infrastructure.
The Role
You will design, develop, and maintain reliable flight and payload software for spacecraft platforms. This includes architecting software solutions to meet high-level system requirements, managing interfaces with spacecraft subsystems and ground systems, and leading the full software development lifecycle from requirements through integration and testing.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross-disciplinary engineering teams to design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant flight and payload software
- Architect and implement software solutions to meet system requirements while managing interfaces with multiple spacecraft subsystems and ground systems hardware
- Create and maintain documentation for software operation and interfaces with other system components
- Develop and test command and control software for spacecraft flight operations and payload electronics
- Participate in test campaigns, from unit-level testing to automated system and subsystem-level testing
- Present technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences
- Provide expert guidance in software design, code development, peer reviews, and integration with flight hardware
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
- 8+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems
- 5+ years of experience developing concurrent and asynchronous software
- Active TS/SCI security clearance
- Demonstrated experience leading software development and execution for a satellite bus or spacecraft platform
- Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, integration, debugging, testing, and maintenance
- Strong embedded software development experience using Rust and/or C/C++
- Experience developing software for SoC-based architectures in Linux environments
- Working knowledge of Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, and IPsec
- Experience implementing cybersecurity requirements and integrating NSA-approved cryptographic systems or solutions
- Ability to travel 10-20% of the time
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
- 15+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems
- Strong understanding of processor architectures and experience optimizing software for performance, memory usage, and resource-constrained environments
- Experience developing embedded software on ARM-based processors in Linux, RTOS, and/or bare-metal environments
- Experience with hardware interfaces and communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, and PCIe
- Experience developing software for autonomous, fault-tolerant, or mission-critical systems
- Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining reusable software platforms or product lines
- Experience with space system development across spacecraft and ground segments
- Familiarity with Python for development, testing, automation, or tooling
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range: $185,000 - $225,000 depending on experience.
Benefits include flexible time off, employer-funded medical/dental/vision/life/LTD/STD, 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution, stock options, free parking or transit reimbursement, and free daily lunch in office.
Work Location
On-site in Reston, VA or Arlington, VA.