Senior Space Cryptographic Systems Engineer (NSA-Certified)

Umbra; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

Stock Options

401k with company contribution

Free Parking

Free lunch daily in office

Job summary

Umbra is seeking a Cryptographic Systems Engineer to own Type-1 cryptographic architecture across space and ground systems. You will lead secure communications designs from concept through certification and accreditation, coordinating with government customers and NSA as needed.

You will define COMSEC architecture and ensure rapid development, production, and deployment of secure space systems, while maintaining strict performance and compliance standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of engineering experience with cryptographic systems, COMSEC, or secure communications.
• Direct experience with NSA Type-1 cryptographic equipment, integration, and certification processes.
• Working knowledge of key management, key loading, and COMSEC handling requirements.
• Experience taking a hardware or system design through certification and accreditation to operational use.
• Strong systems-level thinking with the ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment.
• Lead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, certification, and on-orbit operations.
• Define COMSEC architecture for command, telemetry, and mission data protection, including encryption, key management, and key loading approaches.
• Serve as Umbra's primary technical interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers on cryptographic certification and accreditation.
• Drive the certification and accreditation effort, developing the artifacts, test evidence, and documentation required to achieve and maintain approval to operate.
• Partner with flight software, avionics, RF, ground, and security teams to integrate cryptographic functions into the broader system architecture.
• Support COMSEC handling, key management planning, and operational procedures for on-orbit fleet operations.
• Identify and mitigate cryptographic and supply-chain risks across design and production.
• Establish reusable cryptographic standards, interfaces, and processes that scale across Umbra's satellite production line.

Skills

Cryptographic systems

Secure communications

NSA Type-1

Key management

Certification & accreditation

Systems-level thinking

Security clearance

Hardware/software integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science

Job description

Umbra is seeking a Cryptographic Systems Engineer to own Type-1 cryptographic architecture across space and ground systems. You will lead secure communications designs from concept through certification and accreditation, coordinating with government customers and NSA as needed.

You will define COMSEC architecture and ensure rapid development, production, and deployment of secure space systems, while maintaining strict performance and compliance standards.