Director, Defense presso Umbra

Description

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 space platforms, you belong here at Umbra. 

About the Job
The Defense Director is responsible for growing and leading a portfolio focused on integrating world-class, space-based capabilities into the Nation’s remote sensing and space warfighting architecture. This role serves as a key interface between Umbra and its government customer community, shaping product strategy and roadmap priorities to ensure development, manufacturing, and operational capabilities scale to support U.S. leadership in space.

The position leads the build-out and mentorship of a high-performing team spanning business development, capture, and program management, with a focus on addressing the most critical mission needs of DoD and IC customers. The Director drives strategic campaign development, enforcing disciplined prioritization and alignment across the business, while partnering closely with peer Directors to ensure processes are scalable, compliant, and responsive to evolving customer and regulatory requirements.

Success in this role requires exceptional communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, deliver clear and confident briefings to senior leadership, and cultivate strong, trusted customer partnerships. A deep engagement with Umbra’s technologies enables effective customer support, technical oversight, and proactive identification of program risks and challenges.

As pipeline opportunities mature into active captures, the Defense Director leads proposal development and RFI responses, playing a central role in driving organic growth and expanding Umbra’s presence within the defense and national security space.

Our aim is to hire this position to work in Umbra's Reston or Arlington, VA office and will require the ability to work in a SCIF part-time.

Key Responsibilities

• Growth and Strategy: Develop compelling strategies to position Umbra to support the US' space-based defense priorities. Communicate the voice of the customer to Umbra product architects, and advocate for manufacturing, operations, and technology development scale.
• Profit and Loss Management and Program Execution: Have full accountability for successful execution (cost, schedule, technical) of multiple current contracts, either directly or through subordinate program managers. Update monthly financial actuals and forecasts. Ensure initiatives within portfolio are executing to plan. Provide accurate revenue and cost forecasting and reporting across portfolio. Execute program lifecycle from shaping through contract closeout.
• Processes: Contribute to the development of Umbra’s Program Excellence Framework, a set of documented processes for program start-up, execution, and close-out. Leverage lessons learned and experience from prior programs, but tailored to how Umbra does business, to define lightweight processes for functions such as financial management, risk management, contractual deliveries, and monitoring performance.  Also contribute to the development and documentation of Umbra’s Capture Center of Excellence, focused on processes that result in a winning proposal (from bid decision gate through commitment review).
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Active TS//SCI security clearance.
• 10-15+ years of professional experience working in program management, supporting USG contracts or the aerospace and defense domain.
• Extensive experience working with Department of Defense customers.
• Experienced leader able to build a plan, build a team, and execute with clear ownership and minimal oversight.
• Direct experience with space industry program planning and execution.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to travel CONUS up to 25% of time.

Desired Qualifications

• Proven ability to successfully provide profit and loss management to portfolio, including forecasting as well as resource and cost management, resulting in successfully meeting financial objectives.
• Proven ability to manage technical development and/or R&D scope and technical teams.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced development environment.
• Continuous learner that is not afraid to lead through uncertainty, take chances and learn from his/her mistakes.
• Consistently takes initiative and champions causes that need to be addressed.
• Demonstrated emotional intelligence to interact and empathize with staff, colleagues, cross-functional teams, and customers.
• Experience with remote sensing satellite development and mission operations, including SAR and RF space payloads and their associated ground systems.
• Familiarity with Agile product development and technology lifecycle processes, including leadership experience working within SAFe, PMI, or similarly rigorous organizational frameworks.
• Experience working with business development on large USG captures and supporting and/or leading proposals.
• Understanding of systems engineering processes and system architectures.
• Experience working with a diverse set of U.S. Government DoD, IC and Civil customers.

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 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. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions requiring an active U.S. Government security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

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 $230,000 - $270,000 DOE.