Engineering Manager

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 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 an Engineering Manager to join our Space Systems Department, where you will provide leadership and guidance to both personnel and programs while working alongside a highly skilled technical team. This role reports directly to the Vice President and involves overseeing a team responsible for designing, building, testing, and operating cutting-edge satellite technology. As the Engineering Manager, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with hardware, software, and product-focused teams, as well as senior leadership, to drive the development of innovative technologies and support the professional growth of a talented group of engineers. This position is based at our Santa Barbara office to facilitate close collaboration with the Space Systems team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead personnel and oversee programmatic initiatives within the Space Systems Business Group.
• Support the professional growth and career development of engineers, incorporating feedback from technical leadership.
• Work closely with project, product, and technical leads to understand project scope, ensuring team members execute tasks with high quality and efficiency.
• Manage team members in areas such as workload, task assignments, support, development, and conflict resolution.
• Hold regular one-on-one meetings with team members and conduct quarterly performance evaluations.
• Ensure the team adheres to legal, security, and company policy requirements.
• Represent the team's needs and capacity in technical meetings, collaborating with architects to ensure well-informed solutions.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Work directly with the VP of Space Systems to coordinate and report on departmental efforts.
• Partner with various stakeholders for headcount planning and recruitment needs.
• Apply agile methodologies to support sprint planning, track progress, and manage individual performance.
• Other professional duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in personnel management
  
• 3+ years of experience in project management
• 5+ years of experience or direct exposure to aerospace engineering or a related field
• Proficiency in traditional project management practices and tools, such as critical path analysis, resource loading, and MS Project
• Experience with agile project management methodologies and tools, including Scrum, SAFe, and Jira
• Proven ability to build and support high-performing engineering teams
• Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and dynamic environment
  

Desired Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in personnel management
• 5+ years of experience in project management
• 10+ years of experience and/or direct exposure to aerospace engineering 
• Demonstrated expertise in applying traditional and agile management methodologies
• Degree in engineering or a related STEM field
• Certifications in PMP (Project Management Professional), CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management), and/or CSM (Certified Scrum Master)

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
  

 

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.