{"id":3369140,"url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-ground-software-systems-architect","title":"Ground Software Systems Architect","company":{"id":58866,"name":"Umbra","domain":"umbra.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/umbra-space","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":91,"open_postings":7,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.143,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":79,"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Reston, United States","Arlington, United States","Santa Barbara, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":195000,"max":235000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":235000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-27T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-27","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T15:47:40Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"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.\nAbout the Team\nRemote Sensing - The Data\nRemote Sensing is where Umbra got its start, and our agile Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation remains the most capable on the market. We transform satellite data into real-world, actionable insights that strengthen U.S. national security and intelligence, support disaster response, and advance scientific discovery. Our team delivers data at scale with unmatched quality, persistence, and the speed and responsiveness our partners demand.\nIf you want to work on cutting-edge space technology that’s redefining what’s possible in remote sensing, you belong here at Umbra.\nAbout the Job\nThe Ground Software Systems Architect is responsible for defining, designing, integrating, validating, and delivering secure, mission-critical ground software systems supporting advanced space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on technical leadership role serves as the ground software systems architecture lead for a key customer program, translating complex mission requirements and operational challenges into scalable, resilient, and secure software and enterprise solutions across classified computing environments.\nThe ideal candidate brings a combination of deep technical expertise, systems-level thinking, and strong customer-facing leadership. They understand how space and ground systems integrate, have experience developing and deploying software in classified environments, and can navigate complex customer organizations while balancing technical objectives, program priorities, and stakeholder expectations.\nWorking closely with software, hardware, network, cybersecurity, mission engineering teams, and government stakeholders, this individual will lead technical strategy, architecture, integration, and execution throughout the program lifecycle. Success in this role requires someone who can take ownership of complex technical challenges, lead multidisciplinary teams, communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical stakeholders, and drive solutions from initial customer needs through operational deployment.\nThis position is based on-site in our Reston, VA, Arlington, VA, or Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office. If you are interested in working from the Santa Barbara office, high travel of 50%+ will be required for the first year.\nKey Responsibilities\nLead Ground Software Architecture: A strong understanding of software architecture, event-driven microservices, interface design, and automated testing practices. 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.\nLead 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.\nDesign 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.\nDrive Technical Leadership & Customer Engagement: Act as a primary technical interface with government customers and stakeholders. Understand customer challenges, translate operational needs into actionable technical requirements and solutions, and communicate architectural decisions, risks, and tradeoffs effectively. Navigate complex stakeholder environments with sound judgment, diplomacy, and an understanding of both technical and programmatic priorities. Present technical solutions at customer reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and ORR.\nProvide Cross-Functional Technical Leadership : Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, program management, and customer organizations to resolve technical challenges, maintain alignment, and deliver integrated solutions.\nEnable Mission Operations & Modern Engineering Practices: Collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver mission-ready ground capabilities using software systems engineering best practices, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), automation, and modern software deployment pipelines supporting U.S. Government and Intelligence Community programs.\nRequirements\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.\nActive TS/SCI security clearance with the ability to maintain access.\nStrong understanding of space-to-ground software system architectures, including spacecraft and ground interfaces, ground communications, mission operations, and the integration of ground software with broader space mission systems.\nExperience serving as a technical lead or architect, owning architectural decisions, coordinating engineering execution, and driving complex technical initiatives through delivery.\n10+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.\nDemonstrated experience architecting, developing, integrating, and delivering mission-critical ground software or ground systems supporting Intelligence Community (IC), DoD, space, ISR, or other national security programs.\nExperience with IT infrastructure and network integration, including secure networking, virtualization, storage, servers, and enterprise computing environments.\nStrong understanding of modern software architecture, event-driven microservices, interface design, and automated testing practices.\nStrong systems engineering experience leading system integration, verification, validation, operational testing, and requirements decomposition for complex ground systems. \nProficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python or C/C++\nDesired Qualifications\nMaster's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.\nExperience supporting ISR, SAR, or other space-based intelligence collection missions.\nExcellent written and verbal communication skills with experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams and government stakeholders.\nHands-on experience with enterprise IT hardware, including servers, networking equipment, storage appliances, and virtualization platforms.\nExperience developing and implementing Communications Security (COMSEC) plans, key management, and secure communications requirements.\nStrong understanding of RED/BLACK architectures, secure system boundary design, cross-domain considerations, and classified network security principles.\nExperience with automated integration and test frameworks, scripting, and laboratory development.\nFamiliarity with Kubernetes/Docker containerized services, DevSecOps practices, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and modern software deployment pipelines.\nExperience supporting U.S. Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, or NRO space programs.\nBenefits\nFlexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave\nMedical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)\nVol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)\n401k with 3% non-elective company contribution\nStock Options\nFree parking\nFree lunch in office daily\nUmbra 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.\nEmployment Eligibility Verification\nIn 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.\nITAR/EAR Requirements\nThis 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.\nPay Transparency\nThis 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.\nCompensation Range\nThe Compensation Range for this role is $195,000 - $235,000 DOE.","description_format":"text","description_chars":9862,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Flexible time off","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"},{"name":"Virginia","iso":null,"kind":"city"},{"name":"California","iso":null,"kind":"city"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Earth Observation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-28T00:20:06Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":79,"reasons":["conf:3","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":235000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-ground-software-systems-architect","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-ground-software-systems-architect.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-29T17:18:10Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25868,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-30T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":58866},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=58866"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fumbra-ground-software-systems-architect"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fumbra-ground-software-systems-architect"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fumbra-ground-software-systems-architect"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/umbra-ground-software-systems-architect\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fumbra-ground-software-systems-architect"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3369140}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"umbra.space","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3369140},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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