Senior Cryptographic Systems Engineer Seen this week

About Umbra

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems from sensors to spacecraft. The Mission Solutions team builds platforms purpose-built for U.S. and allied defense and intelligence missions, including custom payloads, full-stack spacecraft, and constellation infrastructure.

The Role

As Senior Cryptographic Systems Engineer, you will own the architecture, integration, and lifecycle management of Type 1 cryptographic capabilities across Umbra's space and ground systems. You will lead secure communications architectures from concept development and trade studies through implementation, NSA certification and accreditation, launch, and on-orbit operations.

Working with mission systems, spacecraft, ground software teams, government customers, and the National Security Agency, you will define the COMSEC architecture protecting command and telemetry links, mission data, and cross-domain interfaces for national security missions. As the technical authority for cryptographic integration, you will establish engineering standards, certification strategy, and secure communications frameworks that future programs build upon.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across 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 Umbra's primary technical interface to NSA, certification authorities, and government customers on cryptographic certification and accreditation.
• Drive certification and accreditation efforts, developing 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 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 Umbra's satellite production line.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or 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 hardware or system design through certification and accreditation to operational use.
• Strong systems-level thinking with ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. Government security clearance. U.S. citizenship required.

Desired Qualifications

• 12+ years of engineering experience with cryptographic systems, COMSEC, or secure communications.
• Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or space-system cryptographic integrations.
• Experience supporting ISR, SAR, or space-based intelligence collection missions.
• Familiarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and 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.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, autonomously driven startup environment with competing priorities and aggressive schedules.

Compensation and Location

Base salary range: $190,000 to $220,000, depending on experience. Compensation may vary based on geographical location and candidate qualifications. Position is on-site in either Arlington, VA or Reston, VA office.

Benefits

• Flexible time off, sick, family and medical leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life, long-term disability, short-term disability (employer funded)
• Voluntary life, critical illness, accidental, hospital indemnity, and pet insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock options
• Free parking
• Free lunch daily in office