Senior Optical Engineer — IR Imaging Lead

Muon Space, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Remote; USD 184,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Paid vacation (3 weeks)

12 paid holidays

Unlimited sick time

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Muon Space, Inc. in Silicon Valley seeks a Staff Optical Engineer to serve as technical lead for infrared remote sensing instruments in San Jose, CA or remote. You will own performance metrics and drive AI&T of optical subsystems, collaborating with cross‑functional teams from concept through build and test.

The role requires Ph.D. (or MS with extensive experience) and expert optical design (Zemax/Code V/FRED), hands‑on metrology, and end‑to‑end integration in a small-team environment.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or master's with extensive imaging/IR remote sensing experience.
• Strong expertise in optical design, error budgeting, and specs with vendors.
• Hands-on AI&T execution, metrology, test data reporting.
• Experience leading end-to-end optical development in small teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead optical subsystem delivery as technical lead from design to test.
• Manage optical error budgets and performance metrics (MTF, WFE).
• Collaborate with systems engineering on budgets including thermal and pointing.
• Define AI&T strategy and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Oversee functional and environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, thermal).
• Improve testing methodologies and reliability.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Python

C++

Education

Ph.D. in Optical Engineering or related field

Tools

Zemax

Code V

FRED

Job description

Muon Space, Inc. in Silicon Valley seeks a Staff Optical Engineer to serve as technical lead for infrared remote sensing instruments in San Jose, CA or remote. You will own performance metrics and drive AI&T of optical subsystems, collaborating with cross‑functional teams from concept through build and test.

The role requires Ph.D. (or MS with extensive experience) and expert optical design (Zemax/Code V/FRED), hands‑on metrology, and end‑to‑end integration in a small-team environment.