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Instrument Systems Engineer

Muon Space
San Jose, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 4/28/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 5/27/2026
About The Role

Muon seeks an Instrument Systems Engineer to join our team in San Jose, CA with a focus on infrared remote sensing instruments. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated engineer with a versatile skill set who is comfortable working across many layers of technical depth from individual components through system level. This role will be a key member of the instrument engineering team, working across multiple interfaces to drive instrument operation from ground to orbit. Previous experience developing and operating infrared electro-optical systems, remote sensing instruments, and test infrastructure in fast-paced and small-team environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Define instrument concept of operations and the planning and transition into on-orbit commissioning, calibration/validation, and sustaining operations for new instruments and constellations.
  • Define and track health metrics and system safety alerts to monitor the performance of on-orbit instruments. Support anomaly detection, root cause analysis, and mission anomaly reviews.
  • Support the development and operation of ground support equipment and testbeds for instrument functional testing, calibration, and characterization.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of best practices, processes, tools, and methodologies to enhance efficiency of instrument operations.
  • Collaborate and communicate effectively with instrument and spacecraft systems engineers, mission operations engineers, program managers, and customers.
  • This position participates in a 24/7 on-call rotation with other team members. The on-call rotation is approximately one week per month.

Qualifications

  • B.S, M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering field, or equivalent experience.
  • 5 years of experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment, with exposure to imaging systems, infrared remote sensing instruments, and spacecraft.
  • Software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Julia, C, C ).
  • Experience developing and operating integrated test infrastructure and systems.
  • Experience working hands-on with precision electro-optical equipment.
  • Experience performing data analysis, post-processing, and test report generation.
  • Demonstrated project management skills and ability to collaborate with other hardware and software engineering disciplines.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills.
  • Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week.

Nice-to-Have Skills

  • Experience with requirements development, error budgets/traceability/flowdown, V&V planning and implementation, including on-orbit performance assessment.
  • Experience with radiometric analysis, modeling, calibration, and measurement.
  • Experience supporting integrated spacecraft testing and launch campaigns.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $184,000 - $223,000 plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed 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, full-time employees receive 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.

Salary : $184,000 - $223,000

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