About the Job

As Umbra's Cryptographic Systems Engineer, you will own the architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of Type 1 cryptographic capabilities across our space and ground systems. You will lead the development of secure communications architectures from concept development and trade studies through implementation, integration, verification, NSA certification and accreditation, launch, and on-orbit operations. Working closely with mission systems, spacecraft, ground software, government customers, and the National Security Agency, you will define the COMSEC architecture that protects command and telemetry links, mission data, and cross-domain interfaces for national security missions. This role is responsible for ensuring Umbra's secure communications solutions meet the highest standards for performance, resiliency, and compliance while supporting rapid development, production, and deployment of advanced space systems. As the technical authority for cryptographic integration, you will establish the engineering standards, certification strategy, and secure communications framework that future Umbra programs build upon.

This position is based on-site in either our Arlington, VA office or Reston, VA office.

Key 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 Umbras 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 Umbras satellite production line.

Requirements

Required 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.

Desired Qualifications

• 12+ years of engineering experience with cryptographic systems, COMSEC, or secure communications.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules.
• Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations.
• Experience supporting ISR, SAR, or other space-based intelligence collection missions.
• Familiarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and current NSA-approved algorithms and equipment.
• Background in RF, link design, or secure command and telemetry systems.
• Experience supporting on-orbit or fielded operations.
• Knowledge of satellite mission operations, TT&C systems, mission planning, or ground data processing architectures.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government, DoD, Intelligence Community, or NRO space programs.

Benefits

• 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

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 $190,000 - $220,000 DOE.