Portfolio Manager, National Security

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Umbra’s ecosystem operates through three business units: Remote Sensing (the data), Space Systems (the components), and Mission Solutions (the platforms). Together, our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed. 

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.   

If you want to work on cutting-edge space technology that’s redefining what’s possible in space platforms, you belong here at Umbra. 

About the Job

As the NatSec Portfolio Manager at Umbra, you delight our customers and users with high quality products and solutions delivered on time and on budget, meeting our contractual obligations. You are cognizant of how all the pieces need to come together for successful program execution and can turn that into well-organized roadmaps, schedules, and budgets that you then track throughout the program lifecycle. You manage development scope alongside using processes from the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). You are an excellent communicator: collaborating effectively to a variety of technical and non-technical groups, confidently and succinctly briefing to leadership, and creating partnerships with your customers. You will learn Umbra’s technologies to better support your customers and to effectively manage technical progress. You will mitigate program issues and emerging risks. As pipeline opportunities transition to specific captures, you will lead proposals and RFI responses as well as organic growth. As your portfolio grows, you will be responsible for managing and mentoring program managers in planning and executing the portfolio.  

Our aim is to hire this position to work in Umbra's Arlington, VA office and will require the ability to work in a SCIF part-time.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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).
• Growth and Strategy: Develop and deliver successful proposals and white papers that are complete, compliant, high quality, and have a high probability of winning.  Define and execute growth strategies for current and follow-on contracts. Support company roadmaps by being the voice of the customer on their needs.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Current and active security clearance.
• 10+ years of professional experience working in program management supporting USG contracts or the aerospace and defense domain.
• Extensive experience working with national security and intelligence 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.
• Proven ability to manage technical development and/or R&D scope and technical teams.
• Continuous learner that is not afraid to lead through uncertainty, take chances and learn from his/her mistakes.
• Consistently takes initiative and champions