Senior Instrument Systems Engineer

Salary: $184,000 - 223,000 per year Requirements:

• We require a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• We are looking for at least 5 years of experience in a multidisciplinary environment, with exposure to imaging systems, infrared remote sensing instruments, and spacecraft.
• We need proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Python or Julia.
• We expect experience with root cause analysis, including data evaluation and testing.
• We value experience in data analysis, post-processing, and preparing test reports.
• We need strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• We want someone who thrives in a fast-moving environment with frequent new challenges.
• We require the ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance, with active clearance strongly preferred.

• We lead instrument architecture trade studies, define the concept of operations, own the radiometric model and throughput budget, and drive requirements decomposition, flowdown, and verification and validation planning.
• We develop and manage technical budgets, including mass, power, thermal, line-of-sight pointing and jitter, and data volume, to maintain healthy margins throughout development.
• We create and maintain interface control documents across mechanical, thermal, electrical, and software interfaces to support a modular instrument architecture.
• We support optical instrument assembly, integration, and test planning and execution in close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• We improve systems engineering methods, tools, and practices to increase efficiency across instrument development.
• We collaborate closely with subsystem engineers and analysts, instrument and spacecraft systems engineers, AI&T and production teams, program managers, external partners, and other stakeholders.
• We participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation to support on-orbit anomaly resolution, typically about one week per month.

• AI
• Support
• Julia
• Python
• Security

More:

We are Muon Space, founded in 2021 and based in San Jose, California, with the option to work remotely for this role. We are an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data for customers across climate monitoring and national security. Our integrated technology stack helps optimize missions for faster time-to-orbit and stronger remote sensing performance, and our Silicon Valley facility supports spacecraft manufacturing and rapid payload integration at scale. We offer a competitive compensation package that includes equity and comprehensive benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, three weeks of paid vacation, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time, and paid parental leave. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage applicants to apply even if they do not meet every qualification.

last updated 33 week of 2026