Manager, Instrument Design

About the role Muon seeks a Manager of Instrument Design to build, mentor, and guide a multidisciplinary team of optical and optomechanical engineers. In this role, you will establish the technical vision, design methodologies, and execution frameworks for our multispectral thermal IR instruments. As a technical leader and functional manager, you will define the architecture standards, oversight processes, and optical design, analysis, and error budget frameworks that your team executes against. You will guide optomechanical trades, establish vendor management strategies for optical components, and oversee integration with matrixed engineering disciplines across mechanical, structural, and thermal domains. While your primary focus is leadership, technical governance, and internal capability building, you will retain the deep engineering background required to contribute as an optical subsystem lead. This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our Mountain View, CA office three days per week. Responsibilities • Lead, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of optical and optomechanical engineers; owning hiring, career development, and strategic workforce allocation across missions. • Establish and oversee the technical frameworks, methodologies, and review processes for optical subsystem development, including error budgeting, performance modeling, and STOP analysis across the instrument development lifecycle. • Provide architectural oversight and guidance for precision optomechanical layouts, optical bench design, mounting, and alignment strategies. • Define standards and methodologies for stray light analysis and optical coating definition including spectral filter specifications. • Maintain the technical oversight and vendor management strategy for optical components and subsystems. • Drive cross-functional alignment with other teams in the EO/IR instruments organization, while establishing functional interfaces and boundaries with matrixed mechanisms, mechanical, structural, and thermal engineers and analysts. • Establish standards for optical assembly, alignment, test, and calibration, in collaboration with the instrument systems engineering and AIT groups. • Serve as the optical lead on select internal R&D initiatives and provide interim technical leadership on early-stage missions prior to program team scaling. Qualifications • Ph.D. and 3+ years of experience developing imaging systems and remote sensing instruments; or M.S. and 6+ years industry experience; or B.S. and 8+ years industry experience in optical engineering, optomechanical engineering, physics, or a related field, including technical leadership roles as a plus. • Direct experience developing space-based or airborne remote sensing hardware, specifically multispectral thermal IR payloads or cryogenically cooled imaging systems. • Expertise in sequential and non-sequential optical design and analysis software (e.g., Zemax, Code V, FRED, LightTools). • Strong familiarity with optomechanical design principles, optomechanical CAD review (SolidWorks), and STOP analysis workflows. • Proven track record of defining technical specifications and actively managing external vendors for optical components. • Hands-on experience with precision optical metrology equipment, cleanroom optical alignment, and environmental qualification testing. • Software proficiency in Python for performance modeling and data analysis. • Excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills with experience managing complex cross-functional engineering interfaces. • Willingness and ability to obtain security clearance required. Nice-to-have Skills • Experience working within matrixed engineering organizations and establishing clear functional boundaries. • Exposure to systems engineering, specifically requirements decomposition and V&V. Salary The salary range for this role is $184,000 - $202,000, plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be 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.