Director, Defense
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.
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.
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
- 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.
- 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
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.
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.