Staff Software Engineer, Onboard Compute Architecture

muonspace; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

Muon Space is seeking a Staff Architect for the High Performance Compute (HPC) team to define and evolve the onboard compute platform architecture. You will be the technical center of gravity for software architecture, spanning FPGA, GPU, CPU, and onboard networking, shaping a modular, reusable compute platform for future Muon spacecraft.

You will lead cross-team architecture discussions, translate mission requirements into a forward-looking roadmap, and ensure the platform remains configurable

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field, plus 7+ years of experience in system-level or compute-platform architecture.
• Hands-on implementation across software, API design, FPGA programming, GPU programming, or low-level networking software.
• Proven track record architecting heterogeneous compute systems with FPGA, GPU, and CPU in embedded, aerospace, or high-performance edge environments.
• Deep understanding of onboard networking and data-flow architectures (Ethernet, DMA, zero-copy, real-time streaming).
• Ability to balance architectural purity with mission pragmatism for reuse across missions.

Responsibilities

• Own the software, data flow and computation architecture and design process for Onboard HPC.
• Collaborate with Electrical Engineering and Product leads to drive end-to-end requirements and design of onboard compute components.
• Gather architectural requirements from across the company and translate them into a forward-looking compute roadmap.
• Unify architectural concepts across the team into a coherent, company-wide HPC architecture.
• Drive cross-discipline architectural alignment across FPGA, GPU, CPU, onboard networking, and timing; define data flows and pipelines.
• Champion a network-first onboard architecture with modular, configurable compute components for mission-specific use.
• Partner with Electrical Engineering to ensure decisions are executable in silicon, PCB, and harness design.
• Communicate architecture through diagrams, docs, white papers, and talks for tech and exec audiences.

Skills

FPGA programming

GPU programming

Software architecture

Data flow design

Onboard networking

System-level architecture

Education

Bachelors/Masters in related field

Job description

About the role

Muon Space is seeking a Staff Architect for the High Performance Compute (HPC) team, to define and evolve the end-to-end architecture of our onboard compute platform. You'll be the technical center of gravity for software architecture, computation and data flows across FPGA, GPU, CPU, and onboard networking, pulling together architectural threads from across the team and shaping a coherent, mission-flexible compute platform that will fly on Muon spacecraft for years to come.

You will work at the intersection of mission requirements, payload capabilities, and platform architecture, ensuring today's designs meet tomorrow's mission needs, and that our compute platform remains modular, configurable, and reusable across a growing fleet of missions.

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

Responsibilities

• Own the software, data flow and computation architecture and design process for Onboard High Performance Compute


• Work closely with corresponding leads in Electrical Engineering and Product to drive the end to end requirements and design of onboard compute components.


• Gather architectural requirements from across the company (payload, mission ops, program management, and future mission concepts) and translate them into a forward-looking compute roadmap.


• Cluster and unify architectural concepts across the team into a coherent, documented, company-wide HPC architecture.


• Drive cross-discipline architectural alignment across FPGA, GPU, and CPU compute, onboard networking, timing; achieve consensus on data flows, processing pipelines, and compute partitioning, including hosting customer-provided routines and code.


• Champion a network-first onboard architecture with modular, configurable compute components that can be instantiated in mission-specific ways, and which enables the spacecraft to derive and perform limited autonomous activities.


• Partner closely with the Electrical Engineering team to ensure architectural decisions are executable in silicon procurement, PCB and module design, and harness design.


• Communicate architecture broadly through diagrams, design docs, white papers, and tech talks, so engineers, product and program managers, and leadership all share a common mental model of the platform.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, plus 7+ years of professional experience in system-level or compute-platform architecture and implementation.


• Deep previous hands-on implementation experience across software, API design, FPGA programming, GPU programming or low level networking software.


• Proven track record architecting heterogeneous compute systems combining FPGA, GPU, and CPU elements, ideally in embedded, aerospace, or high-performance edge environments.


• Deep understanding of onboard networking and data-flow architectures, including Ethernet, DMA, zero-copy, and real-time streaming pipelines.


• Ability to balance architectural purity with mission pragmatism: designing for flexibility and reuse across many missions while shipping what today's missions need.


• Demonstrated experience driving cross-team architectural consensus across hardware, firmware, and software disciplines.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce architecture documents and roadmap material for both technical and executive audiences.


• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance is a plus.

Nice‑to‑Have Skills

• Direct experience with spacecraft avionics, payload compute, or space-grade FPGA/GPU platforms.


• Familiarity with onboard networking standards relevant to space (e.g. Ethernet, SpaceWire).


• Prior experience defining modular, mission-configurable compute platforms or product families.


• Background in safety-or mission-critical development processes.


• Prior authorship of architectural white papers or public technical publications.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $210,000 - $234,000 , 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 wor