Radar Systems Architect
Umbra

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.

We are looking for a talented, mission driven Radar Systems Architect to work closely with and provide overall technical guidance to a multidisciplinary engineering team, developing next-generation space radar systems. The ideal individual has a deep technical expertise in all major subsystems involved with the production and operation of orbital radar systems. The individual should be able to provide significant technical guidance and become intimately familiar with how Umbra's software and hardware systems interact. The Radar Systems Architect works to bring a big picture perspective to the table to rapidly advance novel capabilities from the drawing board to Umbra's growing constellation of satellites and to provide technical guidance for end-to-end optimization of existing and emerging technologies and CONOPs.

Key Responsibilities

• Leverage a deep technical background to provide guidance for the optimization and continual improvement of Umbra's radar satellites and software systems on a day-to-day basis
• Work with business leaders' strategic and technological vision to formulate an iterative, agile, and rapid path to prototype demonstrations and then pivot or transition to operations
• Anticipate and report on future engineering challenges and candidate solutions that will directly impact the present and future objectives of the company
• Collaborate with systems engineering, ground software, flight software, and space operations teams on CONOPs definition, requirements formulation, and validation while providing overarching and deeply technical guidance at all stages of development
• Be able to distill key-concepts to individual contributors and team leads in a collegiate manner that fosters a culture of openness and technical collaboration
• Provide technical direction for radar systems modeling, simulation, mission design, and systems engineering analyses for current and future development efforts
• Be comfortable representing the company and our technical developments in radar systems nationally through technical presentations, papers, and forums
• Be comfortable doing all the above as part of a lean and agile team aggressively focused on technical excellence to provide our customers with the best possible global insights

Basic Qualifications

• Fundamental expertise with at least 7 years of experience and deep technical knowledge in space-based remote sensing, specifically end-to-end radar systems domain knowledge
  
• Master's degree or equivalent experience in a related STEM field (such as aerospace, mechanical engineering, physics, or computer science)
  
• Expertise in analysis of radar systems elements including but not limited to: link budgets, insertion and return loss, noise figure, fast and slow time phase and amplitude, clock stability, TOA and geolocation, beam pattern simulation and measurement, matched filters
• Ability to perform system level performance analysis across various designs and derive expected key performance indicators relative to modes of operation and system architecture
• Analytical ability to drive a design from first principals, through block diagrams, to parts selection, test campaign development, and analysis
• Strong RF experience and knowledge of integrated microwave assemblies
• Strong understanding of core concepts in physics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and electrodynamics
• Strong desire to coach and mentor junior engineers in an effort to make the whole team technically stronger
• Two or more years of Python development or similar
• Strong initiative for technical excellence and a DevOps mindset that champions causes and provides collaborative technical leadership
  
• Ability and desire to work collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment, a willingness to learn new skills and technology, and an openness to work within a companywide lean agile framework

Desired Qualifications

• 3 or more years' experience with on orbit SAR satellite operations

• Masters Degree with 10+ years of experience
• Experience with satellite mission modeling and simulation
• Experience working with microcontrollers as either a professional or hobbyist
• Engineering patents held relevant to radar sensor technology
• Experience working with APIs and cloud deployed micro-services
• Familiar using tools like GitLab, JIRA, and Confluence to collaborate with teammates
• Deep understanding of SAR across architectural and hardware trades, collection methodologies, and data processing techniques as well as a thorough understanding of analytical trades regarding other Earth observation phenomenologies

Benefits

• Flexible Vacation / Paid Sick Time/ Family Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life
• 401(k) Plan with 3% non-elective employer contribution
• Stock Options

Umbra is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

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 span more than one career level. To provide greater transparency to candidates, we share base ranges for all job postings regardless of state. We set standard base pay ranges for all roles based on function and level benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. Final offer amounts are determined by skills, responsibilities and relevant work experience.

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