Senior Site Reliability Engineer
About this role
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 Senior Site Reliability Engineer to help design, build, operate, and scale the mission- and business-critical infrastructure that powers Umbra's systems. In this role, you will leverage a deep understanding of modern infrastructure, distributed systems, and the broader technology stack to drive technical excellence, make thoughtful architectural decisions, and balance long-term scalability with operational reliability.
You'll partner closely with engineering teams to improve processes, champion best practices, evaluate emerging technologies, and implement solutions that enhance the performance, resilience, and efficiency of our platforms. The ideal candidate is a collaborative technical leader who communicates effectively across technical and non-technical teams and drives meaningful improvements that have a lasting impact across the organization.
This position is based on-site in either our Arlington, VA office, Reston, VA office or Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure the reliability and scalability of critical systems, meeting SLAs through proactive monitoring and effective incident response.
- Develop and promote new technologies and tools, conducting research and creating proofs of concept to introduce solutions that enhance the team's capabilities.
- Lead by example in fostering a culture of excellence and reliability.
- Continuously evaluate and improve team processes and workflows to increase efficiency and reduce complexity.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, product managers, and stakeholders to align on technical strategy and provide expert guidance.
- Participate in on-call rotations, providing support and resolving complex technical issues.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
- 5-8+ years in a Site Reliability Engineer or DevOps role supporting a SaaS platform, with demonstrated expertise managing distributed systems.
- Extensive experience with AWS services (EC2, S3, Lambda, VPC Networking) and deep knowledge of cloud infrastructure, networking, and security best practices.
- Proficiency running, optimizing, and scaling Kubernetes clusters in production environments.
- Experience using and writing Terraform to architect and manage production infrastructure.
- Ability to create and utilize Infrastructure-as-code (IaC), GitOps practices, and automation tools to increase reliability and reduce manual tasks.
- Proven success in leading teams or projects using Agile/Scrum methodologies.
- Expertise in infrastructure and software architecture, capable of designing and implementing large-scale, reliable systems with minimal guidance.
- Experience developing and managing comprehensive infrastructure monitoring and alerting strategies.
- 10+ years in a Site Reliability Engineer or DevOps role supporting a SaaS platform, with demonstrated expertise managing 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.
- 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
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 $150,000 - $180,000 DOE.
Company at a glance
Umbra is an American space technology company built to push the limits of what’s possible.
We’re redefining what can be done in and through space – expanding access, increasing persistence, and delivering a powerful information advantage to our customers. From the ground up in the U.S., we design, build, test, and operate advanced systems – from sensors to spacecraft – engineering novel solutions tailored to the missions that matter most.
Our agile Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation is the most capable system on the market — producing the highest-quality imaging data in any condition, at any time. Built for unmatched resilience, our system illuminates what others miss and empowers customers with persistent access, resilient performance, and proven results on orbit – not just on paper. Our commitment to First Principles engineering has fueled year-over-year growth since our market entry in 2021. And we are only just getting started.
Umbra’s ecosystem today includes
- Remote Sensing = the data
- Space Systems = the hardware
- Mission Solutions = the platforms
Together, these capabilities make Umbra the most effective partner in the market – delivering the flexibility, performance, and resilience your mission demands. By continuously designing, building, and operating our own systems, we’re constantly refining our technology, our products, and our craft.
Our radar imagery is the direct result of our platform effectiveness – precision from orbit, powered by our integrated hardware and software. Because we’ve mastered the details, we can customize satellites quickly and reliably. Now, we’re offering others the same building blocks that more our missions possible.
We know space. And we’re continuing to redefine it.
Top Benefits
- Flexible Time Off
- Sick Leave
- Family & Medical Leave
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- Short Term Disability
- Critical Illness Insurance
- Accidental Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity
- Pet Insurance
- 401k
- Stock Options
- Free Parking
- Free Lunch
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