Senior Space PV Engineer - Power Systems & Deployables

Muon Space, Inc.; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 183,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

Muon Space, Inc. seeks a Senior Photovoltaics / Solar Array Engineer to own the design, qualification, and sustainment of spacecraft PV systems—from cell selection to qualified flight hardware—optimizing mass, power, and cost.

You will join the Solar & Deployables hardware group, partnering with vendors and manufacturing, and guiding designs to mission requirements while balancing performance and schedule. This onsite role requires three days/week in San Jose, CA.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years designing, building and testing high-reliability hardware; 5+ years in solar arrays/pv systems.
• Strong solar cell physics understanding; hands-on with single/double/triple junction cells.
• Hands-on with solar cell selection/screening, encapsulation/lamination, or array electrical design.
• Knowledge of array performance prediction, power budgeting, BOL/EOL, radiation and thermal effects.
• Experience with array/coupon qualification and environmental testing (TVAC, vibration, thermal cycling).
• Systems-level thinking across electrical, mechanical, thermal and power domains.
• Proficiency with drawings, GD&T, BOMs; CAD/PLM and test equipment.
• Experience working with external vendors for part development and manufacturing.
• Excellent communication, presentation and cross-functional coordination skills.
• BS or higher in EE/ME/MSE/Physics or related field.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical owner for PV systems (cells, encapsulation, array electrical architecture).
• Lead solar cell selection and qualification, including procurement specs and performance characterization.
• Build and manage vendor partnerships from cell procurement to co-developed array assemblies.
• Define array electrical architecture: string sizing, bypass/diode strategy, grounding/bonding, layout.
• Optimize total system efficiency across mass, power and cost at array/spacecraft level.
• Develop array performance predictions; reconcile with test and on-orbit data.
• Own encapsulation, lamination, bonding, and process improvements with manufacturing.
• Own array and coupon qualification; oversee environmental tests and data packages.
• Collaborate with mechanical/thermal engineers; support make vs. buy decisions.
• Document photovoltaics best practices; contribute to PDR/CDR/MRR; mentor juniors.

Skills

Solar arrays

Solar cell physics

System-level thinking

Engineering drawings

Environmental testing

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

BOMs / CAD tools

External vendor partnerships

Communication & leadership

Education

BS or higher in EE/ME/MSE/Physics

Tools

CAD

PLM

Test equipment

Job description

Muon Space, Inc. seeks a Senior Photovoltaics / Solar Array Engineer to own the design, qualification, and sustainment of spacecraft PV systems—from cell selection to qualified flight hardware—optimizing mass, power, and cost.

You will join the Solar & Deployables hardware group, partnering with vendors and manufacturing, and guiding designs to mission requirements while balancing performance and schedule. This onsite role requires three days/week in San Jose, CA.