{"id":787749,"url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-senior-cryptographic-systems-engineer","title":"Senior Cryptographic Systems Engineer","company":{"id":58866,"name":"Umbra","domain":"umbra.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/umbra-space","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workable","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":92,"open_postings":8,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.125,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":79,"computed_at":"2026-10-03T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","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"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":190000,"max":220000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":220000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-21T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-04T00:17:34Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":75,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":75},"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\nMission Solutions - The Platforms\nMission 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.\nIf you want to work on cutting-edge space technology that’s redefining what’s possible in space platforms, you belong here at Umbra.\nAbout the Job\nAs Umbra's Cryptographic Systems Engineer, you will own the architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of Type 1 cryptographic capabilities across our space and ground systems. You will lead the development of secure communications architectures from concept development and trade studies through implementation, integration, verification, NSA certification and accreditation, launch, and on-orbit operations. Working closely with mission systems, spacecraft, ground software, government customers, and the National Security Agency, you will define the COMSEC architecture that protects command and telemetry links, mission data, and cross-domain interfaces for national security missions. This role is responsible for ensuring Umbra's secure communications solutions meet the highest standards for performance, resiliency, and compliance while supporting rapid development, production, and deployment of advanced space systems. As the technical authority for cryptographic integration, you will establish the engineering standards, certification strategy, and secure communications framework that future Umbra programs build upon.\nThis position is based on-site in either our Arlington, VA office or Reston, VA office.\nKey Responsibilities\nOwn the end-to-end architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment.\nLead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, certification, and on-orbit operations.\nDefine COMSEC architecture for command, telemetry, and mission data protection, including encryption, key management, and key loading approaches.\nServe as Umbras primary technical interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers on cryptographic certification and accreditation.\nDrive the certification and accreditation effort, developing the artifacts, test evidence, and documentation required to achieve and maintain approval to operate.\nPartner with flight software, avionics, RF, ground, and security teams to integrate cryptographic functions into the broader system architecture.\nSupport COMSEC handling, key management planning, and operational procedures for on-orbit fleet operations. \nIdentify and mitigate cryptographic and supply-chain risks across design and production. \nEstablish reusable cryptographic standards, interfaces, and processes that scale across Umbras satellite production line.\nRequirements\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.\n8+ years of engineering experience with cryptographic systems, COMSEC, or secure communications. \nDirect experience with NSA Type-1 cryptographic equipment, integration, and certification processes.\nWorking knowledge of key management, key loading, and COMSEC handling requirements. \nExperience taking a hardware or system design through certification and accreditation to operational use. \nStrong systems-level thinking with the ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries.\nAbility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to obtain and maintain a security clearance.\nDesired Qualifications\n12+ years of engineering experience with cryptographic systems, COMSEC, or secure communications. \nAbility to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules. \nExperience with spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations. \nExperience supporting ISR, SAR, or other space-based intelligence collection missions.\nFamiliarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and current NSA-approved algorithms and equipment. \nBackground in RF, link design, or secure command and telemetry systems. \nExperience supporting on-orbit or fielded operations.\nKnowledge of satellite mission operations, TT&C systems, mission planning, or ground data processing architectures.\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 daily in office\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 $190,000 - $220,000 DOE.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7533,"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":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Flexible time off","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Earth Observation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-12T02:26:29Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":67,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.895,"p_room":0.75,"age_days":74,"expected_fill_days":79,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:late"],"computed_at":"2026-10-03T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":220000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-senior-cryptographic-systems-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-senior-cryptographic-systems-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-04T02:04:12Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2839,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":2161,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z"}}}