Ground Systems Engineer & Architect

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 Team – Mission Solutions – The Platforms

Mission Solutions builds on Umbra’s expertise in remote sensing and spacecraft operations to engineer platforms purpose‑built for U.S. and allied defense and intelligence missions. Whether it’s a custom payload, a full‑stack spacecraft, or the infrastructure behind an entire constellation, our team delivers secure, resilient systems tailored to exacting requirements and built on timelines that match the urgency of the mission.

About the Job

Ground Systems Engineer & Architect

The Ground Systems Engineer & Architect is responsible for defining, designing, integrating, and validating secure, mission‑critical ground systems supporting advanced space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands‑on technical role serves as the ground systems architecture lead, translating mission requirements into scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions across classified computing environments. The position is responsible for developing ground system architectures, interface definitions, COMSEC implementations, RED/BLACK network designs, and integration strategies while leading system verification, operational testing, and customer design reviews throughout the program lifecycle. Working closely with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity, and mission engineering teams, the Ground Systems Engineer & Architect ensures successful delivery of modern ground infrastructures leveraging virtualization, containerized services, DevSecOps practices, and enterprise IT technologies to enable reliable mission operations for U.S. Government and Intelligence Community customers.

This position is based on‑site in our Reston, VA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect Secure Ground Systems: Define and develop end‑to‑end architectures for mission‑critical ground systems supporting space, ISR, and national security missions, ensuring scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions.
• Lead System Integration & Verification: Plan and execute system integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities to ensure ground systems meet mission, performance, cybersecurity, and operational requirements.
• Design Secure Enterprise Infrastructure: Develop and implement secure computing environments including COMSEC, RED/BLACK architectures, cross‑domain interfaces, classified networking, Kubernetes/Docker containerized services, virtualization, storage, and enterprise IT infrastructure.
• Drive Technical Leadership & Customer Engagement: Serve as the technical authority for ground system design, leading requirements development, interface definition, technical trade studies, and presenting technical solutions at customer reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.
• Enable Mission Operations & Modern Engineering Practices: Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver mission‑ready ground capabilities using systems engineering best practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation, and modern software deployment pipelines supporting U.S. Government and Intelligence Community programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with the 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 (IC), DoD, space, ISR, or other national security programs, including system architecture, interface definition, requirements development, and verification planning.
• 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 a 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 other space‑based intelligence collection missions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams and government stakeholders.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python, C/C++.
• 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 (IaC), 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.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Volunteer 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

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 $195,000 – $235,000 DOE.