Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads Muon Space In-p[...]

Seeds Renewables; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 181,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

Muon Space in Washington, DC seeks a Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads to drive exploration of new payload concepts, enable imaging modes, and prototype use cases across defense, intelligence, and commercial end-users.

You will bridge Applied Science, Payload Engineering, Product, and Mission Systems, building models and simulations, and leading early-stage R&D at the cradle of the business. This role requires TS/SCI clearance and strong cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Qualifications

• BS, MS, or PhD in engineering, physics, optical sciences, or equivalent.
• 5+ years as systems or instrument engineer with EO/IR payload experience.
• Background in infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral remote sensing.
• Experience on EO/IR and space missions in gov/commercial markets.
• Strong systems engineering: requirements, simulation/modeling, analysis.
• Programming skills: Python, Julia, MATLAB.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance; active clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contribute as a core technical member to conceptualize, analyze, demonstrate, and experiment with EO/IR payload concepts and related technologies.
• Develop payload requirements, build simulations/models, and perform detailed analysis for early-stage concepts and use-cases.
• Identify imaging modes and new operational use cases for stakeholders and customers.
• Drive and support early-stage R&D activities as Principal Investigator.
• Partner with Product and Applied Science to translate ideas into rigorous technical architectures and demonstrations.
• Evaluate early-stage trades, radiometric models, and system budgets for unconventional applications.
• Perform feasibility studies and literature reviews to support mission concepts.
• Support customer discovery, capability demonstrations, and proposal generation with deep EO/IR systems engineering backing.
• Assist in creating proposals and white papers articulating differentiation and mission utility.

Skills

EO/IR payloads

Systems engineering

Python

MATLAB

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

BS/MS/PhD in engineering, Physics, or Optical Sciences

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads

Muon Space In-person · Washington, DC, US 1 day ago

Job Description

About the role

Muon Space is seeking a creative and technically rigorous Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads to join our Mission Innovation team. In this high-impact role, you will drive the technical exploration of new payload and instrument concepts, enable novel imaging modes, and conceptualize innovative use cases for Muon Space through advanced systems engineering, modeling and analysis, and active experimentation. You will act as a critical bridge across Applied Science, Payload Engineering, Product, Mission Systems, and Business Development to identify emerging opportunities, lead proof-of-concept efforts, and drive stakeholder engagement. You will be the technical engine and analytical force exploring new EO/IR applications of Muon technologies, developing advanced concepts, and building early-stage models and simulations to enable the missions of tomorrow. Operating at the earliest stages of the business lifecycle, you will hypothesize, analyze, and validate how Muon’s unique payload capabilities can solve critical challenges for defense, intelligence, philanthropic, and commercial end-users.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a core technical member of the Mission Innovation team, conceptualizing, analyzing, demonstrating, and experimenting with new EO/IR payload concepts and related technologies.
• Develop system and payload requirements, build advanced simulations and models, and perform detailed technical analysis for early-stage payload concepts and use-cases.
• Identify and enable novel imaging modes and enable new operational use cases that address critical challenges for stakeholders and customers.
• Drive and support early-stage execution of R&D activities/proposals as Principal Investigator.
• Partner closely with Product and Applied Science groups to translate early-stage ideas into feasible, rigorous technical architectures and demonstrations.
• Evaluate early-stage technical trades, radiometric models, and system budgets for unconventional applications prior to traditional development phases.
• Perform feasibility studies, literature reviews, and trade studies to support development of early-stage mission, instrument, and data concepts.
• Support customer discovery, capability demonstrations, and proposal generation by providing deep EO/IR systems engineering expertise and analytical backing.
• Support creation of technical proposals, white papers, and concept studies that articulate the differentiation and mission utility of Muon’s offerings and drive R&D roadmaps.

Qualifications

• B.S, M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering field, Physics, Optical Sciences, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience working as a systems or instrument engineer, with deep technical knowledge in the EO/IR payload engineering domain.
• Background in infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, or similar remote sensing phenomologies
• Experience in EO/IR and related space missions across government and commercial markets.
• Demonstrated capability in traditional systems engineering including requirements development, simulation/modeling, and detailed technical analysis.
• Software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB) for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical information to cross-functional teams and external customers.
• Strong collaborative skills for working across disciplines including engineering, satellite operations, mission architecture, and business development.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance required, active clearance strongly preferred.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Familiarity with early-stage business development, strategic capture, and customer discovery.
• Experience developing radiometric models and/or scene simulations to drive early application feasibility and payload design trades.
• Experience working hands-on with rapid prototyping, experimental payloads, or capability demonstrations.
• Familiarity with space systems development, especially small satellite remote sensing system architectures.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $181,000 - $208,000, 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.