The posting
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 Job
Umbra is seeking a Director of Congressional Affairs to serve as the company's principal representative to the United States Congress. Redefining space doesn't happen in orbit alone. It happens in the laws, budgets, and policies that determine what the nation asks of space and who it trusts to deliver. Umbra's technology provides critical capabilities for U.S. national security, intelligence, and science missions, as well as allied and international customers and commercial applications, from supporting warfighters and decision-makers with timely intelligence to enabling disaster response, environmental monitoring, and scientific discovery. The Director will bring that mission to Capitol Hill, helping the policymaking community understand these capabilities and the public value they create, and ensuring Congress has the insight it needs to make informed decisions about the future of American space and remote sensing.
In this role, the Director will lead Umbra's legislative strategy, drawing on deep relationships with Members of Congress and committee staff to help shape authorization and appropriations outcomes. But the goal is larger than any single legislative win: it is to redefine how Congress understands and invests in U.S. commercial space, building enduring support for the role these capabilities play in keeping the nation secure, informed, and scientifically competitive, with Umbra's three business units at the center of that story.
The ideal candidate has experience working at the highest levels: as counsel or professional staff on a defense, intelligence, or commerce committee, and/or as a senior policy advisor comfortable briefing a Member of Congress on defense, space, and national security matters. They bring firsthand knowledge of how the NDAA, IAA, and relevant appropriations bills are drafted, marked up, conferenced, and defended, and how funding lines are created and sustained. They will pair that legislative craftsmanship with strong commercial instincts and a genuine belief in the mission, identifying new program opportunities through their network and working closely with Umbra's business development team to translate national needs into enduring programs that serve them.
This role will work closely with Umbra's Director of Public Policy and sits within the Communications organization, which encompasses government relations, marketing, and communications, and reports to the Vice President of Communications.
This position is based on-site in our Arlington, VA office.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as Umbra's primary interface with Congress, with emphasis on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittees, the Intelligence Committees, and the commerce and space-focused authorizing committees.
- Lead efforts to transition Umbra capabilities from congressional adds, pilots, and demonstrations into enduring programs within the national security space, including drafting and shaping statutory language, report language, and funding lines, and supporting them through markup, conference, and execution.
- Build and maintain deep, direct, trusted relationships with Members of Congress and staff, including principals on the defense, intelligence, and appropriations committees and relevant state and district delegations.
- Identify new program opportunities, emerging funding lines, and customer requirements early through Hill, committee, and agency networks, and partner with Umbra's business development team to pursue them.
- Design and execute a proactive legislative strategy to advance Umbra's priorities in the NDAA, IAA, defense and intelligence appropriations, and commercial space, spectrum, and remote sensing policy.
- Partner with the Director of Public Policy to align legislative strategy with Umbra's broader policy agenda.
- Support engagement with the executive branch on issues that intersect with Umbra's legislative agenda across DoD, the IC, and civil space stakeholders.
- Prepare and staff Umbra executives for Hill engagements, testimony, briefings, staff delegations, site visits, and classified or controlled discussions as appropriate.
- Monitor, analyze, and translate legislative, budgetary, and political developments into clear, actionable insight for Umbra leadership.
- Manage outside consultants, lobbying firms, and compliance obligations (LDA filings and related requirements).
Requirements
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, law, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.
- 12+ years of combined congressional, executive branch, and/or industry government affairs experience.
- Senior Capitol Hill service in at least one of the following: counsel or professional staff on a defense, intelligence, armed services, or commerce committee; or senior defense/national security policy advisor in a Member's personal office, directly briefing and staffing the Member.
- Demonstrated legislative craftsmanship: hands-on experience drafting statutory language, report language, and amendments, and navigating markup, conference, and floor processes for the NDAA, IAA, or appropriations bills.
- Proven experience helping move defense, intelligence, or space capabilities into Programs of Record, with specific funding lines, legislative language, or programs the candidate helped create and sustain.
- Established, current, direct relationships with Members of Congress and professional staff on the defense, intelligence, appropriations, and/or space-related committees.
- Demonstrated ability to identify new opportunities through congressional and agency channels and translate them into results for a company or program office.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical and budgetary issues for Members, staff, and executives alike.
Desired Qualifications
- Advanced degree such as a JD, MPP, MPA, or comparable.
- Active TS/SCI security clearance, or the eligibility to obtain one.
- Self-starter able to build and run a function independently, set strategy, and work effectively without close supervision.
- Executive branch experience in a Senate-confirmed, appointed, or senior career role (OSD, service legislative liaison, NRO/NGA, NTIA, FCC, OMB, or White House).
- Experience representing a high-growth space, defense tech, or telecommunications company, or a relevant trade association.
- Experience planning or leading congressional staff delegations (STAFFDELs/CODELs), site visits, and Member-level engagements with operational commands and programs.
- Familiarity with export control regimes (ITAR/EAR) as they affect commercial space.
- Passion for space, technology, and national security, which drives a deeper understanding of Umbra's mission and audiences.
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
- 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.
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 cover multiple career levels. To ensure greater transparency, we provide base salary ranges for all roles, regardless of location. Our standard pay ranges are based on the role’s function and level, benchmarked against similar growth-stage companies. Compensation may vary based on geographical location, as certain regions may have different cost-of-living factors. The final offer will also be influenced by the candidate's skills, responsibilities, and relevant experience.
Compensation Range
The Compensation Range for this role is $225,000 - $275,000 DOE.
