Staff Spacecraft Platform Engineer
About the role
Muon Space is hiring a Staff Spacecraft Platform Engineer to be a senior technical owner of our spacecraft bus — the reusable architecture behind every Muon mission. You'll own platform-level architecture and requirements, drive trades across mechanical, electrical, solar/power, thermal, and avionics, and keep the platform scaling cleanly as the mission portfolio grows.
This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.
Responsibilities
Own spacecraft platform architecture and its evolution across the mission portfolio.
Partner with BD, Product, and Engineering to ensure platform architectures align with product roadmaps and near-term customer missions
Lead cross-disciplinary system trades (mass, power, thermal, data, cost) and platform requirements development and flow-down.
Understand the architecture levers that map the spacecraft HW architecture to system / mission performance.
Serve as the technical authority bridging mechanical, electrical, avionics, thermal, and software.
Drive reuse, modularity, and standardization so new missions configure quickly and reliably.
Set platform-engineering standards and lead platform-level design reviews, resolving cross-subsystem interface issues.
Mentor engineers, raise the technical bar, and help hire and grow the platform team.
Required Qualifications
10+ years in spacecraft or complex-system engineering, including system- or platform-level ownership.
Broad understanding of spacecraft subsystems (structures, power, solar / deployables, mechanisms, avionics, thermal, GNC, comms), with deep technical knowledge / expertise in at least one spacecraft subsystem.
Ownership and delivery of spacecraft subsystems from requirements through design reviews, qualification, V&V, and launch / flight operations.
Track record leading system trades and requirements across multiple programs or product generations.
Strong systems-engineering mindset and fundamentals: budgets, interfaces / ICDs, V&V.
Strong technical leadership and cross-functional communication.
B.S. or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related engineering field.
Nice-to-have
Flight heritage — platforms you architect that have successful on orbit flight heritage.
Experience with LEO smallsat / ESPA-class platforms.
Experience defining a reusable product platform at a scaling space company.
Salary
The salary range for this role is $202,000 - $223,000, 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.