Solar Manufacturing Lead

Solar Manufacturing Lead

San Jose, CA

About the Role

Muon seeks a Solar Manufacturing Lead to spearhead the stand-up of our in-house solar module production line. This is a high-impact role where you will bridge the gap between design and production and own the vertical integration of this critical component.

You will be the primary technical point of contact with external partners and internal engineering resources, responsible for building this capability within our facility. You will execute the lab layout, equipment procurement, and process qualification required to build the high-performance solar arrays that power our spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Facility & Line Setup: Lead the end-to-end setup of the solar manufacturing lab, including facility requirements (cleanliness, ESD, climate control), equipment installation, and workstation optimization.
• Technology Transfer: Act as the primary liaison with partners to leverage external technologies to build our line. Work closely with engineering teams to master and document processes including stringing, lamination, and assembly.
• Equipment Qualification: Support the procurement and commissioning of production hardware (e.g., laser cutters, laminators, solar simulators/flash testers, etc.)
• Process Development: Create and maintain detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work Instructions (WIs) optimized for our specific spacecraft requirements.
• NPI & Scaling: Lead the transition from initial "pathfinder" builds to full-rate flight production. Identify and resolve manufacturing bottlenecks and yield issues.
• Quality & Testing: Implement in-line quality controls, including Electroluminescence (EL) testing and flash testing, to ensure every module meets space-grade reliability standards.
• Vendor Evaluation and Engagement: When required, engage and evaluate tooling vendors and suppliers to secure our supply chain both domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in solar module manufacturing or high-precision electromechanical assembly (semiconductor, medical device, or aerospace).
• B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials, or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
• Deep familiarity with PV module assembly (stringing, tabbing, encapsulation, and lamination).
• Demonstrated experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing line establishment
• Exceptional ability to work with external partners/vendors and translate complex technical IP into internal execution.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Direct experience working with custom terrestrial solar technology or similar high-efficiency space-grade PV modules.
• Experience with space-environment reliability standards (thermal cycling, vacuum bake-out, and vibration).
• Knowledge of automation/robotics for solar cell handling.
• Familiarity with CAD software (SolidWorks) for tooling and fixture design.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $144,000 - $155,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined 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.