Proposal Manager

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Umbra’s ecosystem operates through three business units: Remote Sensing (the data), Space Systems (the components), and Mission Solutions (the platforms). Together, our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed.

About the Job
As a Proposal Manager at Umbra, you will play a critical role in supporting the company's growth by coordinating and managing proposal development efforts across commercial and government opportunities, in both domestic and international markets. Working closely with business development, capture, engineering, legal, and pricing teams, you will help ensure that proposals are compliant, compelling, and delivered on schedule. The ideal candidate navigates ambiguity and novel situations with curiosity, builds trust across teams, and communicates with confidence and professionalism.

This position is based on-site in either our Arlington, VA office or Reston, VA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the development, production, and submission of proposals in response to government and commercial solicitations.
• Manage proposal schedules, compliance matrices, content collection, reviews, and final deliverables to ensure on-time submission.
• Collaborate with business development, capture, contracts, legal, finance, and technical teams to gather and organize proposal content.
• Review solicitation requirements and ensure proposal responses comply with customer instructions and company standards.
• Support proposal and capture efforts by identifying contractual requirements, risks, and compliance considerations.
• Maintain proposal repositories, templates, past performance records, and other business development resources.
• Track proposal status, milestones, and submission metrics to support continuous process improvement.
• Assist with post-submission activities, including customer communications, debriefings, and lessons learned.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of proposal processes, tools, and best practices that scale with company growth.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Legal Studies, English, or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of professional experience in proposal management, coordination or a related role.
• Demonstrated experience preparing federal government and commercial RFx responses.
• Familiarity with federal acquisition processes, FAR/DFARS requirements, and OTAs.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and document management skills.
• Experience with proposal or document collaboration tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to build rapport and trust.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in proposal management, coordination or a related role.
• A genuine enthusiasm for rolling up your sleeves and delivering results in a dynamic, high-growth setting.
• Prior experience as a Contract Administrator, Contracts Specialist, or Legal Assistant.
• Experience in fast-growing companies or start-up environments.
• APMP certification or other formal proposal management training/certification.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & 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 in office building or Transit is reimbursed
• Free lunch daily in office

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions requiring an active U.S. Government security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In compliance with federal laws, all hired persons will be required to verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) upon hire.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position may include access to technology and/or data that is subject to U.S. export controls pursuant to ITAR and EAR. To comply with federal export controls, all persons hired must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee or asylee as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or must otherwise be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. 

Pay Transparency
This job posting may cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $145,000 - $175,000 DOE.