Senior Ground Software Architect — Space & ISR

Umbra; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k with company contribution

Stock Options

Free parking

Free lunch in office

Job summary

Umbra is seeking a Ground Software Systems Architect to define, design, integrate, validate, and deliver secure, mission-critical ground software systems supporting space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on leadership role translates complex requirements into scalable, resilient software across classified environments.

Lead architecture, system integration, and secure infrastructure efforts, guiding multidisciplinary teams and engaging government stakeholders to deliver

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.
• Strong 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.
• Experience serving as a technical lead or architect, owning architectural decisions, coordinating engineering execution, and driving complex technical initiatives through delivery.
• 10+ years of professional experience in systems engineering, software engineering, infrastructure engineering, or ground systems engineering supporting complex government or aerospace programs.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Experience with IT infrastructure and network integration, including secure networking, virtualization, storage, servers, and enterprise computing environments.
• Strong understanding of modern software architecture, event-driven microservices, interface design, and automated testing practices.
• Strong systems engineering experience leading system integration, verification, validation, operational testing, and requirements decomposition for complex ground systems.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Python or C/C++.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ground Software Architecture: Define end-to-end architectures for mission-critical ground systems ensuring scalable, resilient, and secure enterprise solutions.
• Lead System Integration & Verification: Plan and execute system integration, verification, validation, and operational test activities.
• Design Secure Enterprise Infrastructure: Develop secure computing environments including cross-domain interfaces, classified networking, Kubernetes/Docker, virtualization, storage, and IT infrastructure.
• Drive Technical Leadership & Customer Engagement: Interface with government customers; translate needs into technical requirements; present architectural decisions and risks at reviews.
• Provide Cross-Functional Technical Leadership: Collaborate with engineering teams, management, and customer orgs to resolve technical challenges and deliver integrated solutions.
• Enable Mission Operations & Modern Engineering Practices: Deliver mission-ready ground capabilities using DevSecOps, IaC, automation, and modern deployment pipelines.

Skills

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Customer engagement

Program management

Security-conscious design

Python/C/C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/CS/IS

Master’s degree in Engineering/CS/Systems Engineering

Tools

Kubernetes

Docker

Python

Job description

Umbra is seeking a Ground Software Systems Architect to define, design, integrate, validate, and deliver secure, mission-critical ground software systems supporting space, ISR, and national security missions. This hands-on leadership role translates complex requirements into scalable, resilient software across classified environments.

Lead architecture, system integration, and secure infrastructure efforts, guiding multidisciplinary teams and engaging government stakeholders to deliver