Manager, Instrument Design

Muon Space•Mountain View, CA

17h•$197,000 - $218,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Muon Space seeks a Manager of Instrument Design to lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of optical and optomechanical engineers. The role establishes technical vision, design methodologies, and execution frameworks for multispectral thermal IR instruments, including architecture standards, oversight processes, and optical design, analysis, and error-budget frameworks. The manager guides optomechanical trades, develops vendor-management strategies for optical components, and oversees integration with matrixed mechanical, structural, and thermal engineering disciplines. Although focused primarily on leadership, technical governance, and internal capability building, the role also requires the engineering depth to contribute as an optical subsystem lead. The position is hybrid, with on-site work in Muon’s Mountain View, California office three days per week. It includes leading select internal R&D initiatives and providing interim technical leadership on early-stage missions before program teams scale. Candidates must be willing and able to obtain a security clearance and meet the stated requirements for access to export-controlled information.

Requirements

Ph.D. and at least 3 years of experience developing imaging systems and remote-sensing instruments; or M.S. and at least 6 years of industry experience; or B.S. and at least 8 years of industry experience in optical engineering, optomechanical engineering, physics, or a related field.
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, such as Zemax, Code V, FRED, or LightTools.
Strong familiarity with optomechanical design principles, optomechanical CAD review using SolidWorks, and STOP analysis workflows.
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.
Proficiency in Python for performance modeling and data analysis.
Excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills, including experience managing complex cross-functional engineering interfaces.
Willingness and ability to obtain the required security clearance.
Must satisfy the stated U.S. export-control access conditions: qualify as a U.S. person, be eligible to access the information without export authorization, or be eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required authorization.

Nice To Haves

Technical leadership roles in optical engineering, optomechanical engineering, physics, or a related field.
Experience working within matrixed engineering organizations and establishing clear functional boundaries.
Exposure to systems engineering, particularly requirements decomposition and verification and validation (V&V).

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and scale a team of optical and optomechanical engineers; manage hiring, career development, and strategic workforce allocation across missions.
Establish and oversee technical frameworks, methodologies, and review processes for optical subsystem development, including error budgeting, performance modeling, and STOP analysis throughout 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.
Oversee technical matters and vendor-management strategy for optical components and subsystems.
Drive cross-functional alignment within the EO/IR instruments organization and establish functional interfaces and boundaries with matrixed mechanisms, mechanical, structural, and thermal engineers and analysts.
Establish standards for optical assembly, alignment, testing, and calibration in collaboration with instrument systems engineering and AIT groups.
Serve as optical lead on selected internal R&D initiatives and provide interim technical leadership on early-stage missions before program teams scale.