{"id":1276089,"url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer","title":"Senior/Staff Flight Software 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":"2026-10-05T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","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"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":185000,"max":225000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":225000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"TCP/IP","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-06T00:21:18Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"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\nWe are seeking a Senior/Staff Flight Software Engineer to support Umbra’s Mission Solutions business unit in developing requirements, designing software architecture, writing code, and overseeing system integration and testing. You will also provide expert guidance in software design, code development, peer reviews, documentation, and integration with flight hardware, including unit testing. This is a unique opportunity to design and implement new features and capabilities that enhance Umbra’s existing software baseline, tailored to meet specialized Mission Solutions program needs. The ideal candidate is a solution-driven problem solver, an exceptional communicator, and possesses a strong systems-thinking mindset to drive innovation in spacecraft software development.\nThis position is based on-site in either our Reston, VA office or Arlington, VA office.\nKey Responsibilities\nCollaborate with a cross-disciplinary engineering team to design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant flight and payload software.\nArchitect and implement software solutions to meet high-level system requirements while managing interfaces with multiple spacecraft subsystems and ground systems hardware.\nCreate and maintain documentation for software operation and interfaces with other system components.\nDevelop & test command and control software for spacecraft flight operations and payload electronics.\nParticipate in and contribute to test campaigns, from unit-level testing to automated system and subsystem-level testing.\nPresent high level technical concepts simply and clearly to non-technical audiences.\nTake on additional professional duties as assigned.\nRequirements\nRequired Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.\n8+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems. \n5+ years of experience developing concurrent and asynchronous software.\nActive TS/SCI security clearance.\nDemonstrated experience leading software development and execution for a satellite bus or spacecraft platform.\nExperience across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, integration, debugging, testing, and maintenance.\nStrong embedded software development experience using Rust and/or C/C++.\nExperience developing software for SoC-based architectures in Linux environments. \nWorking knowledge of Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, and IPsec. \nExperience implementing cybersecurity requirements and integrating NSA-approved cryptographic systems or solutions. \nAbility to travel 10-20% of the time.\nDesired Qualifications\nAdvanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. \n15+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems. \nStrong understanding of processor architectures and experience optimizing software for performance, memory usage, and resource-constrained environments. \nExperience developing embedded software on ARM-based processors in Linux, RTOS, and/or bare-metal environments. \nExperience with hardware interfaces and communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, and PCIe. \nExperience developing software for autonomous, fault-tolerant, or mission-critical systems. \nExperience developing, deploying, and maintaining reusable software platforms or product lines. \nExperience with space system development across spacecraft and ground segments. \nFamiliarity with Python for development, testing, automation, or tooling.\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 in office building or Transit is reimbursed\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 $185,000 - $225,000 DOE.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6977,"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"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Earth Observation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-26T01:40:39Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":10,"expected_fill_days":79,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-05T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":225000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/umbra-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-06T01:18:46Z","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","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1839,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3161,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-07T00:00:00Z"}},"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-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer"},{"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-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer"},{"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-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer"},{"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-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fumbra-seniorstaff-flight-software-systems-engineer"}]}