Engineering Manager, Mission Operations

About The Job

We are seeking a Mission Operations Engineering Manager to lead and grow our spacecraft operations team responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our satellite constellation. This role is critical to ensuring mission success, scaling our operational capabilities, and mentoring the next generation of operations engineers.

This position offers a flexible work schedule; however, during periods of system testing, anomaly resolution, or post-launch, it may be necessary to work off-hours shifts.

Our aim is to hire this position to work in either our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office, Arlington, VA office, or Reston, VA office (coming soon).

• Manage, mentor, and support the Spacecraft Operations team within Mission Operations.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Conduct performance reviews and guide career development.
• Set and track clear objectives for individual and team development.
• Work closely with the Director of Mission Operations and broader Mission Operations team to develop strategic initiatives, provide regular reporting on team performance and project status, and contribute to organizational planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with Ground and Space engineering teams for ongoing support to the active on-orbit constellation and to ensure team readiness for on-boarding new spacecraft.
• Provide leadership during critical mission phases (launch, early orbit, anomaly resolution) and ensure operational best practices are followed.
• Manage operational team risks and ensure business continuity planning for mission-critical activities.
• Identify process bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and work towards continuous improvement in team processes.

• 8+ years of professional experience in satellite mission operations, including launch, early orbit, and routine operations.
• 2+ years of personnel management experience, leading engineering or operations teams.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with a track record of building and motivating high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of ground systems, command and telemetry flows, and spacecraft subsystems.
• Demonstrated experience in anomaly resolution and contingency operations.

• Experience managing a team across multiple geographic sites.
• Experience with constellation-scale operations and automation.
• Experience with cloud-based ground systems and modern mission operations platforms.
• Experience collaborating with software engineering teams to develop tools for operations automation.
• Has a passion for nurturing talent and promoting professional growth.
• Demonstrates a collaborative and approachable leadership style.
• Shows adaptability and openness to change in a dynamic work environment.
• Possesses strong analytical thinking and decision-making abilities, with comfort in metrics-driven decision making.
• Exhibits a results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality solutions.
• Exhibits strong organizational skills and the ability to coordinate effectively with other departments and managers.

• 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.

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.

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…