Senior Flight Software Engineer

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.

About the Team
Mission Solutions – The Platforms
Mission 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.

If you want to work on cutting-edge space technology that’s redefining what’s possible in space platforms, you belong here at Umbra.

About the Job
We are seeking a Senior 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.

Our aim is to hire this position to work in either our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office or Arlington, VA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary engineering team to design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant flight and payload software.
• Architect and implement software solutions to meet high-level system requirements while managing interfaces with multiple spacecraft subsystems and ground systems hardware.
• Create and maintain documentation for software operation and interfaces with other system components.
• Develop & test command and control software for spacecraft flight operations and payload electronics.
• Participate in and contribute to test campaigns, from unit-level testing to automated system and subsystem-level testing.
• Present high level technical concepts simply and clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Take on additional professional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of software development experience in the aerospace industry or with embedded systems.
• More than 3 years of architecting and developing high-reliability embedded software in Rust and/or Modern C++, including both concurrent and asynchronous programming.
• Experience programming on embedded ARM cores for SoC architectures in Linux, RTOS, or bare-metal environments.
• Experience leading software development processes, including version control, bug tracking, and design documentation.
• Experience building and maintaining Continuous Integration pipelines, automated build/release processes, and static/dynamic analysis tools.
• 10-20% travel required.
• Current security clearance or willingness to obtain one.
• Comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced development environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field, with 10+ years of experience.
• Strong understanding of processor architecture with skills in optimizing code for performance, testability, and memory usage.
• Familiarity with Python programming.
• Knowledge of dynamics and control systems.
• Experience working within an agile development framework.
• Knowledge of hardware interfaces such as Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, and PCIe.
• Experience with software used in autonomous, fault-critical systems.
• Background in developing, deploying, and maintaining software product lines.
• Experience with space system development, including space and ground segments.

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock Options
• Free Parking

Umbra 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.

Employment Eligibility Verification

In 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.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This 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. 

Pay Transparency
This 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.

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range for this role is $145,000 - $175,000 DOE.