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
Remote Sensing – The Data
Remote Sensing is where Umbra got its start, and our agile Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation remains the most capable on the market. We transform satellite data into real-world, actionable insights that strengthen U.S. national security and intelligence, support disaster response, and advance scientific discovery. Our team delivers data at scale with unmatched quality, persistence, and the speed and responsiveness our partners demand.
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
We are seeking an experienced Site Reliability Engineer to help design, build, operate, and scale mission- and business-critical infrastructure. This role requires a deep understanding of the full technology stack and system architecture, with the ability to thoughtfully manage technical debt and make sound trade-offs that support long-term scalability and reliability. The Site Reliability Engineer will play a key role in evolving our architecture to meet future requirements, taking ownership of broad architectural direction while proactively identifying opportunities to improve team processes and drive technical excellence. Success in this role requires strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with customers, product managers, cross-functional partners, and external stakeholders. This position is expected to lead impactful technical and organizational improvements that benefit multiple teams and support Umbra’s broader objectives.
Our aim is to hire this position to work in either our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office, Arlington, VA office, or Reston, VA office (coming soon).
Key Responsibilities- Lead the design and evolution of Umbra's critical infrastructure, ensuring scalability, reliability, and alignment with both current and future business needs.
- Mentor and guide engineers across multiple teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and serving as a key resource for technical expertise and professional growth.
- Make strategic decisions about architecture and technology, balancing innovation with the management of technical debt and system reliability.
- Lead initiatives to introduce and integrate new technologies and tools, develop proofs of concept, and establish best practices across the organization.
- Collaborate effectively across teams, projects, and departments to solve complex problems and drive technical innovations that support organizational goals.
- Participate in on-call rotations, providing support and resolving complex technical issues.
RequirementsRequired Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- 8+ years of experience in a Site Reliability Engineer, DevOps, or similar role, with demonstrated expertise managing and scaling complex, distributed systems.
- Extensive experience with AWS services (EC2, S3, Lambda, VPC Networking), or other cloud providers, and a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure, networking, and security best practices.
- Proven experience in architecting and managing large-scale Kubernetes deployments in production environments.
- Advanced proficiency in Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools, preferably Terraform, as well as GitOps practices and automation frameworks.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-team projects and initiatives, providing technical leadership and driving high-impact outcomes.
- Strong expertise in infrastructure and software architecture, capable of designing and evolving complex systems for scalability and reliability.
- Experience in developing and managing comprehensive monitoring, alerting, and incident response strategies.
- 12+ years of experience in a Site Reliability Engineer, DevOps, or similar role, with demonstrated expertise managing and scaling complex, distributed systems.
- Advanced understanding of cloud and application security, identity management, and compliance.
- Expertise in service mesh and service registration technologies, focusing on performance and reliability.
- Experience in the aerospace industry.
Benefits
- Flexible Vacation / Paid Time Off / Family Leave
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Voluntary Life, LTD
- 401(k) Plan with 3% non-elective employer contribution
- Stock Options
- Free parking in office building or Transit is reimbursed
- 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 $160,000 - $190,000 DOE.
Top Skills
What We Do
Umbra builds next-generation space systems that observe the Earth in unprecedented fidelity. Our mission: Deliver global omniscience. To stay ahead of climate change, geopolitical risk, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast. Umbra provides easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, which is an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth. We empower our customers to create the solutions that inform, inspire, and address our planet’s most pressing needs. We’re helping to create a brand new industry that has never meaningfully existed before.
Why Work With Us
Umbra has a vision to illuminate the world, meaning anyone can find out what's happening on the ground anywhere on Earth at any time. Exciting challenges lie ahead—new software products, satellite launches, and space missions are in the works. Steered by our core values, we’ll tackle these challenges creatively and collaboratively. Join us!
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