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 remote sensing, you belong here at Umbra.
About the Job
Umbra Mission Solutions is seeking a highly experienced Radar Systems Engineer to lead the end-to-end design, development, and implementation of next-generation space-based SAR missions. In this role, you will define radar architectures, guide hardware development, perform RF testing and characterization, create mission modes and data-processing algorithms, and direct modeling and simulation efforts. Success requires deep technical expertise in SAR, radar transmit/receive chains, RF and SAR analysis, and radar data processing, combined with a strong grasp of physics, electrodynamics, and spacecraft design. You will work collaboratively across systems engineering, ground and flight software, data processing, and space operations teams to develop ConOps, refine requirements, and ensure mission-level validation. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated leadership in radar remote sensing, a passion for mentoring, experience with satellite operations and mission simulation, and fluency with modern engineering tools and high-level programming languages—all while thriving in a collegial, agile environment focused on technical excellence.
This position is based on-site in our Arlington, VA office.
Key Responsibilities
- Architect end-to-end radar missions and system designs for next-generation SAR payloads.
- Lead the architecture, design, development, and implementation of advanced radar hardware solutions.
- Perform RF hardware testing, characterization, and troubleshooting to ensure optimal system performance.
- Define and develop radar mission modes, algorithms, and data-processing techniques, and guide the software team through successful implementation.
- Develop radar modeling and simulation frameworks and provide technical leadership to the team responsible for executing them.
- Collaborate with systems engineering, ground software, flight software, data processing, and space operations teams on ConOps development, requirements definition, and validation.
- Communicate complex concepts clearly and collegially to both individual contributors and team leads, fostering openness, trust, and technical collaboration across disciplines.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree or equivalent experience in a related STEM field (such as aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, or computer science).
- Demonstrated expertise with at least 15+ years of experience and strong technical knowledge in space based radar remote sensing, preferably with a focus on synthetic aperture radar.
- Expertise in architecture, analysis, and development of end to end radar system transmit and receive chains with analytical ability to drive a design from first principals to a block diagram to parts selection.
- Demonstrated ability to connect mission-level requirements and objectives to technical architecture attributes.
- SAR and RF analysis including but not limited to: axeblades, link budgets, insertion and return loss, noise figure, fast and slow time phase and amplitude, clock stability, TOA and geolocation, beam pattern, matched filters..etc
- Demonstrated knowledge of radar data processing and SAR image formation, or other Earth observation techniques.
- Strong understanding of core concepts in physics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrodynamics applied to spacecraft and payload design considerations.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated expertise with at least 20+ years of experience and strong technical knowledge in space based radar remote sensing, with a focus on synthetic aperture radar.
- Desire to mentor junior engineers in an effort to make the whole team technically stronger.
- Experience with on orbit satellite operations.
- Experience with satellite mission modeling and simulation.
- Familiar using tools like as GitLab, JIRA, and Confluence to collaborate with teammates.
- Strong ability to read and write software written in Python or similar high-level programming language.
- 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 in office daily
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.
