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
Space Systems – The Components
Space Systems is where Umbra turns hardware and software designs into on-orbit realities; developing, implementing and iterating mission-ready core technology, while simultaneously advancing the next generation of our own satellite constellation. Space Systems is vertically integrated across the satellite architecture, thus the team designs, builds, and tests an array of critical components and subsystems, including power systems, communications, control systems, deployment hardware, avionics, and payloads, as well as the flight software, firmware and digital design solutions to support the entire hardware stack. Our focus is on first principles engineering, and our mandate is simple: it has to work when it counts. Every bolt, board, and binary is proven on our own SAR constellation, ensuring flight-proven reliability where failure is not an option.
If you want to work on cutting edge space technology while maintaining the highest standard for innovation and mission ready performance, you belong here at Umbra.
About the Job
We are seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to play a key role in delivering embedded flight software for Umbra missions. In this role, you will be responsible for technical leadership, architecture, code development, system integration, documentation, and testing to ensure the successful deployment of mission-critical software. You will serve as a mentor and role model to junior staff, instilling not just good engineering practices, but good work methodologies. You will be engaged with the Chief Engineer, the senior members of the engineering team, and leaders in adjacent teams to support the full lifecycle from architecture through integration and testing.
This position is located on-site in our Santa Barbara, CA office.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide seasoned technical leadership to cross-functional engineering teams to design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant flight software.
- Work with customers and Systems Engineering to create requirements, and then architect and implement software solutions that meet those requirements, while managing interfaces between multiple spacecraft subsystems and ground systems.
- Champion cohesive, customer-centric system design by fostering alignment, shared ownership, and collaboration with ground software teams across the full system lifecycle, from development through operations.
- Develop command and control software for spacecraft flight operations, payloads, and peripheral electronics.
- Contribute to and lead test campaigns, including unit testing and automated tests at both subsystem and system levels.
- Create and maintain detailed documentation for software operations and interfaces with hardware/software products.
- Present high level technical concepts simply and clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Drive success across the full software development lifecycle, including:
- Architecture
- Integration and Test considerations of the underlying systems
- Scalability and compatibility for multiple generations of systems deployed simultaneously
- Perform other professional duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 12+ years of proven experience in high-reliability software development.
- 5+ years of technical leadership across multiple teams of software engineers.
- Experience with software development tools and processes, including Agile methodologies, source control, bug tracking, and design documentation, deployed across multiple product lines.
- Demonstrated leadership in setting and enforcing standards for engineering quality and test rigor across the teams.
- Expertise in architecting and developing high-reliability embedded software in Rust and/or Modern C++, both concurrent and asynchronous.
- Experience with designing for test-ability, including runtime logging for embedded.
- Deep understanding of processor architecture and optimizing code for performance and memory efficiency.
- Experience building and maintaining Continuous Integration pipelines, automated build/release processes, and static/dynamic analysis tools.
- Proficient in programming embedded ARM cores supporting SoC architectures, and working within Linux, RTOS, or bare-metal environments.
- Experience with containerized applications, such as Docker and Kubernetes.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic development environment.
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 18+ years of relevant experience.
- 5+ years of experience working with flight software, autonomous vehicles, or mission critical robotics/mechatronics.
- Experience with secure coding practices.
- Proficient in Python programming.
- Knowledge of Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, and PCIe interfaces.
- Experience developing software for fault-critical systems.
- Experience with distributed systems.
- 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
- Free lunch daily in office
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 $180,000 - $240,000 DOE.
