Umbra

Senior/Staff Flight Software Systems Engineer

Umbra • $185K — $225K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of experience in developing high-reliability software systems.
  • 5+ years of experience with concurrent and asynchronous software development.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance required.
  • Experience leading software development for satellite or spacecraft platforms.
  • Proficient in embedded software development using Rust and/or C/C++.
  • Familiarity with Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, and cybersecurity integration.

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to maintain fault-tolerant flight and payload software.
  • Architect software solutions to align with high-level system requirements.
  • Create and maintain operational documentation for software systems.
  • Develop and test command and control software for spacecraft.
  • Contribute to test campaigns from unit-level to automated testing.
  • Effectively present complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Assume additional responsibilities as needed.

Benefits

  • Flexible time off, sick leave, and family and medical leave.
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits funded by the employer.
  • 401k plan with a 3% non-elective company contribution.
  • Stock options available for employees.
  • Free daily lunch in the office and reimbursement for transit or free parking.
Full Job Description
About the Job

We are seeking a Senior/Staff 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.

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

Requirements

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 8+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems.
  • 5+ years of experience developing concurrent and asynchronous software.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance.
  • Demonstrated experience leading software development and execution for a satellite bus or spacecraft platform.
  • Experience across the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, integration, debugging, testing, and maintenance.
  • Strong embedded software development experience using Rust and/or C/C++.
  • Experience developing software for SoC-based architectures in Linux environments.
  • Working knowledge of Ethernet networking, TCP/IP, and IPsec.
  • Experience implementing cybersecurity requirements and integrating NSA-approved cryptographic systems or solutions.
  • Ability to travel 10-20% of the time.

Desired Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 15+ years of professional experience developing high-reliability software systems.
  • Strong understanding of processor architectures and experience optimizing software for performance, memory usage, and resource-constrained environments.
  • Experience developing embedded software on ARM-based processors in Linux, RTOS, and/or bare-metal environments.
  • Experience with hardware interfaces and communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, and PCIe.
  • Experience developing software for autonomous, fault-tolerant, or mission-critical systems.
  • Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining reusable software platforms or product lines.
  • Experience with space system development across spacecraft and ground segments.
  • Familiarity with Python for development, testing, automation, or tooling.

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 in office building or Transit is reimbursed
  • 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 $185,000 - $225,000 DOE.

About Umbra

Umbra is a computer hardware company that specializes in developing high-performance rendering software and hardware for the gaming and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. Umbra's technology is used by some of the world's leading game developers and studios to create immersive and realistic gaming experiences. The company's products include software tools for real-time rendering, as well as hardware solutions for high-performance graphics processing. Umbra's mission is to help game developers and studios create the most realistic and immersive gaming experiences possible.
Learn more about Umbra
Size
50 employees
Industry
Founded
2006

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