Back to jobs

Infrared Instrument Manager

About the role

Muon seeks an Infrared Instrument Manager to join our team in developing optical remote sensing instruments. At Muon, we are developing multiple missions to help understand and act on climate impacts. The ideal candidate is an experienced and organized leader who has successfully overseen the technical development and management of projects from concept through to delivery and operation. This role will collaborate across multiple disciplines and partner organizations while overseeing technical development and managing the team. Previous experience working to develop and operate infrared electro-optical systems, space remote sensing instruments, and managing in fast-paced and small-team environments are preferred.  Muon is a lean and agile team, so keys to success in this role are your ability to “right-size” analysis and processes for differing levels of system maturity and risk, your flexibility to work with changing demands and schedules, and your effective communication of content to a diverse audience.

The position will be located on-site at our headquarters in Mountain View, CA

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for the EO/IR instrument development team, including organization, project management, and day-to-day execution oversight.
  • Oversight of the full lifecycle engineering for Muon’s infrared remote sensing instrument through design, build, test, delivery, and operation.
  • Manage external partners and vendors through contracting, technical development, project management, and delivery.
  • Oversee management of the EO/IR instrument team including performance management, growth planning, budget tracking, and organization development.
  • Project management of active instrument development projects.
  • Support business development including technical scoping, proposal generation, timeline and effort estimation, for instrument projects.
  • Support formulation and early-stage concept development efforts.
  • Collaborate across Muon disciplines (e.g. Science, Program, Systems, HW/SW) to ensure instrument specific project success.
  • Oversight and support of simulation and modeling efforts, test campaigns, and technical risk management for instruments.
  • Maintain appropriate levels of balance between rapid iteration and prototyping and design for manufacturing at scale.
  • Ensure high standards of technical development, documentation, and collaboration through development of standard processes, tools, templates, and guidelines.
  • Support an inclusive, collaborative, and team-oriented culture; lead by example.

Qualifications 

  • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in a science, engineering, or math field; or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years experience leading development and successful delivery of remote sensing instruments. 
  • 3+ years building and managing technical teams in small fast paced environments.
  • Experience with full lifecycle program/project management.
  • Broad technical understanding across mechanical, optical, thermal, dynamics, and the application of technical disciplines to optical/infrared designs.
  • Experience developing specifications and engaging with and managing vendors.
  • Experience with risk management and balancing risk with other constraints.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week.

Nice-to-have Skills

  • Experience with the development of infrared imaging systems.
  • Experience supporting spacecraft payload integration, test, and launch campaigns.
  • Experience driving rapid root cause analysis and recovery in high pressure situations.
  • Experience working with precision electro-optical equipment and optical design tools (Zemax, etc.).
  • Exposure to systems engineering, especially requirements development and V&V.
  • Strong software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Matlab, C, C++).
  • Exposure to design for space exploration industry, aviation, military, or other high-reliability operating environments.
  • Experience with image processing and data product development.

Salary

The salary range for this role is 100K-190K and will depend on a candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience as defined during the interview process.

About Muon Space

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.

Taking Care of Our Team

At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, we provide equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.

Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too.  Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.

 

 

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Muon Space’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.