About the role

Muon seeks an Infrared Instrument Manager to join our team in developing optical remote sensing instruments. At Muon, we are developing multiple missions to help understand and act on climate impacts. The ideal candidate is an experienced and organized leader who has successfully overseen the technical development and management of projects from concept through to delivery and operation. This role will collaborate across multiple disciplines and partner organizations while overseeing technical development and managing the team. Previous experience working to develop and operate infrared electro-optical systems, space remote sensing instruments, and managing in fast-paced and small-team environments are preferred.  Muon is a lean and agile team, so keys to success in this role are your ability to “right-size” analysis and processes for differing levels of system maturity and risk, your flexibility to work with changing demands and schedules, and your effective communication of content to a diverse audience.

The position will be located on-site at our headquarters in Mountain View, CA

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the EO/IR instrument development team, including organization, project management, and day-to-day execution oversight.
• Oversight of the full lifecycle engineering for Muon’s infrared remote sensing instrument through design, build, test, delivery, and operation.
• Manage external partners and vendors through contracting, technical development, project management, and delivery.
• Oversee management of the EO/IR instrument team including performance management, growth planning, budget tracking, and organization development.
• Project management of active instrument development projects.
• Support business development including technical scoping, proposal generation, timeline and effort estimation, for instrument projects.
• Support formulation and early-stage concept development efforts.
• Collaborate across Muon disciplines (e.g. Science, Program, Systems, HW/SW) to ensure instrument specific project success.
• Oversight and support of simulation and modeling efforts, test campaigns, and technical risk management for instruments.
• Maintain appropriate levels of balance between rapid iteration and prototyping and design for manufacturing at scale.
• Ensure high standards of technical development, documentation, and collaboration through development of standard processes, tools, templates, and guidelines.
• Support an inclusive, collaborative, and team-oriented culture; lead by example.

Qualifications 

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in a science, engineering, or math field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years experience leading development and successful delivery of remote sensing instruments. 
• 3+ years building and managing technical teams in small fast paced environments.
• Experience with full lifecycle program/project management.
• Broad technical understanding across mechanical, optical, thermal, dynamics, and the application of technical disciplines to optical/infrared designs.
• Experience developing specifications and engaging with and managing vendors.
• Experience with risk management and balancing risk with other constraints.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new challenges each week.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience with the development of infrared imaging systems.
• Experience supporting spacecraft payload integration, test, and launch campaigns.
• Experience driving rapid root cause analysis and recovery in high pressure situations.
• Experience working with precision electro-optical equipment and optical design tools (Zemax, etc.).
• Exposure to systems engineering, especially requirements development and V&V.
• Strong software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Matlab, C, C++).
• Exposure to design for space exploration industry, aviation, military, or other high-reliability operating environments.
• Experience with image processing and data product development.

Salary

The salary range for this role is 100K-190K and will depend on a candidate’s skills, qualifications, and experience as defined during the interview process.