Instrument Design Manager, Muon Space

• 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

Desirable

• 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
• 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