Staff Advanced Programs Lead - EO/IR

About the role Muon Space is seeking a creative and technically rigorous Staff Advanced Programs Lead - EO/IR to join our Mission Innovation team. In this high-impact role, you will lead strategic capture efforts and drive exploration of new market opportunities for Muon Space through strategic foresight practices and innovative mission formulations, instrument capabilities, and space technologies. You will act as a critical bridge across technical expertise and business development to identify, develop, and capture high-value opportunities in emerging space markets including commercial, government, and philanthropic missions. You will not just be running existing pipelines; you will be the scientific engine and creative force exploring new applications of Muon technologies, developing advanced concepts, and engaging directly with customers to discover the missions of tomorrow. Operating at the earliest stages of the business lifecycle, you will hypothesize and validate how Muon’s unique capabilities can solve critical challenges for defense, intelligence, philanthropic, and commercial end-users. Responsibilities • Lead execution of mission formulation contracts, drive cross-functional team to deliver mission concepts, documentation, and support customer engagement and growth in EO/IR domains. • Lead strategic capture campaigns for high-value mission opportunities across government and commercial sectors related to EO/IR and other optical remote sensing disciplines. • Drive execution of complex, multi-stage programs from early engagement and formulation through to design concepts and end-to-end mission execution and delivery. • Drive and support early-stage execution of R&D activities/proposals as Principal Investigator. • Lead 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. • Perform feasibility studies, literature reviews, and trade studies to support development of early-stage mission, instrument, and data concepts. • Support customer discovery and engagement efforts, translating operational pain points and needs into technical requirements and conceptual solutions. • Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, business development, and engineering teams to identify and develop new markets, products, and technologies. Qualifications • B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Physics, Remote Sensing, Earth Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical/scientific field. • 7+ years of experience in Earth remote sensing mission and/or instrument development. • Strong foundation in first principles with demonstrated ability to decompose high level mission objectives to technical concepts and solutions. • Background in infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, or similar remote sensing phenomenologies • Experience in EO/IR and related space missions across government and commercial markets. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex scientific concepts for diverse audiences. • Strong collaborative skills for working across disciplines including engineering, satellite operations, mission architecture, and business development. • Existing TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain and maintain. Nice-to-have Skills • Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Julia) for space mission analysis and remote sensing concept development. • Familiarity with early-stage business development and discovery processes. • Training or demonstrated experience in strategic planning, roadmapping, or scenario planning. • Familiarity with space systems development, especially satellite remote sensing. Salary The salary range for this role is $187,000 - $218,000, plus incentive compensation, 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.