Umbra is hiring a Director, Defense to lead the growth of a portfolio integrating our space-based capabilities into the Nation’s remote sensing and space warfighting architecture. In this role, you will serve as a key interface with government customers, shaping product strategy to ensure our development and operations scale to support U.S. leadership in space.
What You'll Do
- Develop compelling strategies to position Umbra to support US space-based defense priorities.
- Communicate the voice of the customer to product architects and advocate for manufacturing, operations, and technology development scale.
- Have full accountability for successful execution (cost, schedule, technical) of multiple current contracts.
- 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.
- Contribute to the development of Umbra’s Program Excellence Framework.
- Leverage lessons learned to define lightweight processes for financial management, risk management, contractual deliveries, and performance monitoring.
- Contribute to the development and documentation of Umbra’s Capture Center of Excellence.
- Lead proposal development and RFI responses as pipeline opportunities mature.
What We're Looking For
- Active TS//SCI security clearance.
- 10-15+ years of professional experience 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.
Nice to Have
- Proven ability to provide profit and loss management to a portfolio, including forecasting and resource management.
- Proven ability to manage technical development and/or R&D scope and technical teams.
- Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced development environment.
- A continuous learner that leads through uncertainty, takes chances, and learns from 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 ground systems.
- Familiarity with Agile product development and technology lifecycle processes, including experience with SAFe, PMI, or similar frameworks.
- Experience working with business development on large USG captures and supporting 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.
Team & Environment
You will lead the build-out and mentorship of a high-performing team spanning business development, capture, and program management.
Benefits & Compensation
- Compensation range: $230,000 - $270,000 DOE.
- Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave.
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded).
- Voluntary 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.
Work Mode
This is a hybrid role open to candidates in Reston, VA or Arlington, VA.
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.
