Senior Remote Sensing Data Scientist

Role Description

Muon Space is building a family of infrared imaging missions designed for global wildfire detection and monitoring, weather and cloud characterization, and space-based environmental monitoring. Muon's IR Data Products team builds the analytics system that processes the data from our spacecraft's custom multispectral imaging instruments into data products and analytics for diverse end-user stakeholders from these missions. We are seeking a Remote Sensing Data Scientist to join this team with a focus on Orthomosaic Tile products spanning two of Muon's core missions.

In the near term, this role will be a key contributor to the development of Orthomosaic Tile products for the FireSat Initial Operating Capability (IOC) constellation — diving deep into real-world data from a brand new system and writing production-ready code that feeds directly into customer-facing services. In parallel, this role will ramp up on Muon's Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) program, leading early product design for the SBEM granule product, authoring technical and customer-facing design documentation, and owning the IR Data team's engagement with SBEM stakeholders. Looking ahead to 2027 and the SBEM launch, this role will serve as the full product owner for the SBEM granule product. This is a high-impact, multi-mission role that sits at the intersection of rigorous Earth observation science and fast-moving product development, and is well-suited for someone who thrives on both deep technical work and cross-functional collaboration.

This position can be performed remotely from an approved location.

Responsibilities

• Develop imaging products for end-users from Muon's infrared imaging missions, spanning both the FireSat Initial Operating Capability (IOC) and the Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) program.
• Research, design, and implement scalable algorithms for image mosaicking, orthorectification, and radiometric normalization of multispectral infrared imagery.
• Product owner for critical customer-facing imagery products in the SBEM and FireSat programs.
• Author and maintain technical and customer-facing design documents for imagery products, ensuring alignment between internal capabilities and external stakeholder requirements.
• Engage with customer technical stakeholders including Technical Interchange Meetings (TIMs), customer questions, and program meetings.
• Write production-ready code that integrates into customer-facing data product pipelines and operational services.
• Ensure the scientific quality, quantitative validation, and integrity of Orthomosaic Tile products across both wildfire and SBEM missions.
• Work cross-functionally with software engineers, calibration scientists, and instrument engineers to design, build, and maintain operational data product services.
• Learn new topics as needed (e.g., sensor geometry and characterization, georeferencing techniques, wildfire and environmental monitoring applications, cloud-native geospatial data engineering).

Qualifications

• PhD with 3+ years of industry experience; or MS with 6+ years industry experience; or BS +8 years industry experience.
• 5+ years of experience building geospatial data products from remote sensing data.
• Hands-on experience with image mosaicking, orthorectification, or related geospatial image processing techniques.
• Experience working with real-world data from new or novel imaging instruments.
• Familiarity with common geospatial data formats and tools (e.g., Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF, XArray, GDAL).
• Exceptional skills in Python-based development and analysis.
• Ability to author and clearly communicate technical design documents and product specifications.
• Ability to work with a distributed, interdisciplinary team (scientists, engineers, data support).
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience processing multispectral or infrared satellite imagery.
• Domain expertise in meteorology, weather, environmental remote sensing, or related Earth observation applications.
• Domain expertise in wildfire monitoring.
• Experience supporting satellite mission product development, commissioning, or early operations.
• Track record of delivering operational geospatial data products to external customers.
• Experience as a product owner or technical lead for a data product.
• Familiarity with cloud-native geospatial systems and pipelines (AWS preferred).
• Experience working with large datasets.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $138,000 - $198,000, 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.

Benefits

• Equity compensation.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Short & long term disability and life insurance.
• Three weeks paid vacation for new employees.
• 12 paid holidays.
• Unlimited sick time.
• Paid parental leave.