GNC Hardware Engineer

Telemetry Today LLC; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Three weeks paid vacation

12 paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Muon Space in Mountain View, CA seeks a Spacecraft Attitude Control System (ACS/GNC) hardware engineer to lead sensor/actuator trade studies from sizing to on-orbit support. You’ll build and test models, collaborate across software, electrical, and thermal domains, and drive system integration.

The role emphasizes autonomy, fast pace, and on-site collaboration with a hybrid schedule. Competitive compensation includes equity and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or applied physics, or equivalent hands-on GNC hardware experience.
• Familiarity with models of spacecraft attitude sensors and actuators.
• No work experience required; more autonomy with experience.
• Availability to work in San Jose location.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges weekly.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate GNC sensor and actuator trade space to meet power, cost, performance, and ConOps requirements.
• Characterize GNC hardware performance and interactions with software, electrical, and thermal.
• Build, validate and improve simulation models of GNC components.
• Perform trade studies to inform sensor and actuator configuration on the spacecraft.
• Define and execute test plans for design verification, qualification testing, and acceptance testing.
• Work with Supply Chain to manage vendor interactions and ensure on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with integration and hardware teams on system integration.
• Monitor GNC hardware performance on orbit and assist with anomaly resolution.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop test planning, execution, and validation.
• Keep up to date on state of the art in the industry.

Skills

GNC hardware experience

Communication skills

Code literacy (readable code)

Education

Master's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or applied physics

Job description

Muon seeks a talented Spacecraft Attitude Control System (ACS) AKA Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) hardware engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate has experience or is excited to work with attitude sensors and actuators from component sizing analysis through build-vs-buy decisions, integration, testing, and on-orbit support.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our Mountain View, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate GNC sensor and actuator trade space to meet power, cost, performance, and ConOps requirements
• Characterize GNC hardware performance and interactions with other systems, like software, electrical, and thermal
• Build, validate and improve simulation models of GNC components
• Perform trade studies to inform sensor and actuator configuration on the spacecraft
• Define and execute test plans for design verification, qualification testing, and acceptance testing, at the standalone component level and integrated system level
• Work with the Supply Chain team to manage vendor interactions and ensure products are delivered on schedule and with the expected performance
• Work with the integration and hardware teams on system integration
• Monitor the performance of GNC hardware on orbit and support anomaly resolution, participating with on-call rotations as needed
• Support hardware-in-the-loop test planning, execution, and validation
• Keep up to date on the state of the art of the industry

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or applied physics, or equivalent years of experience hands-on with GNC hardware
• Familiarity with common models of spacecraft attitude sensors and actuators
• No work experience is explicitly required; the role will include more autonomy and responsibility with more experience
• Availability to work in our San Jose location
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week

Nice-to-have Skills

• A commitment to keeping complexity as low as possible
• Hands-on experience building mechatronics projects that work
• A track record of writing code that others enjoy reading

The salary range for this role is $157,000 - $179,000 , 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.

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. In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states:
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA

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.