Senior Instrument Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA (NOW HIRING)

Muon Space is seeking a creative and technically rigorous Senior Systems Engineer, EO/IR Payloads to join our Mission Innovation team. In this high-impact role, you will drive the technical exploration of new payload and instrument concepts, enable novel imaging modes, and conceptualize innovative use cases for Muon Space through advanced systems engineering, modeling and analysis, and active experimentation. You will act as a critical bridge across Applied Science, Payload Engineering, Product, Mission Systems, and Business Development to identify emerging opportunities, lead proof-of-concept efforts, and drive stakeholder engagement. You will be the technical engine and analytical force exploring new EO/IR applications of Muon technologies, developing advanced concepts, and building early-stage models and simulations to enable the missions of tomorrow. Operating at the earliest stages of the business lifecycle, you will hypothesize, analyze, and validate how Muon's unique payload capabilities can solve critical challenges for defense, intelligence, philanthropic, and commercial end-users.

• Serve as a core technical member of the Mission Innovation team, conceptualizing, analyzing, demonstrating, and experimenting with new EO/IR payload concepts and related technologies.
• Develop system and payload requirements, build advanced simulations and models, and perform detailed technical analysis for early-stage payload concepts and use-cases.
• Identify and enable novel imaging modes and enable new operational use cases that address critical challenges for stakeholders and customers.
• Drive and support early-stage execution of R&D activities/proposals as Principal Investigator.
• Partner closely with Product and Applied Science groups to translate early-stage ideas into feasible, rigorous technical architectures and demonstrations.
• Evaluate early-stage technical trades, radiometric models, and system budgets for unconventional applications prior to traditional development phases.
• Perform feasibility studies, literature reviews, and trade studies to support development of early-stage mission, instrument, and data concepts.
• Support customer discovery, capability demonstrations, and proposal generation by providing deep EO/IR systems engineering expertise and analytical backing.
• Support creation of technical proposals, white papers, and concept studies that articulate the differentiation and mission utility of Muon's offerings and drive R&D roadmaps.

• B.S, M.S., or Ph.D. in an engineering field, Physics, Optical Sciences, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience working as a systems or instrument engineer, with deep technical knowledge in the EO/IR payload engineering domain.
• Background in infrared, multispectral, hyperspectral, or similar remote sensing phenomenologies
• Experience in EO/IR and related space missions across government and commercial markets.
• Demonstrated capability in traditional systems engineering including requirements development, simulation/modeling, and detailed technical analysis.
• Software skills in one or more languages (e.g. Python, Julia, MATLAB) for modeling, simulation, and data analysis.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical information to cross-functional teams and external customers.
• Strong collaborative skills for working across disciplines including engineering, satellite operations, mission architecture, and business development.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance required, active clearance strongly preferred.

• Familiarity with early-stage business development, strategic capture, and customer discovery.
• Experience developing radiometric models and/or scene simulations to drive early application feasibility and payload design trades.
• Experience working hands-on with rapid prototyping, experimental payloads, or capability demonstrations.
• Familiarity with space systems development, especially small satellite remote sensing system architectures.

The salary range for this role is $181,000 - $208,000, 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.