--- title: 'Principal Software Engineer, Mission Design at Muon Space' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-mission-design-muon-space-san-jose-2mxcfhd35g02' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-30' --- # Principal Software Engineer, Mission Design at Muon Space - **Company:** Muon Space - **Location:** San Jose, CA - **Posted:** 2026-10-22 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/muonspace/jobs/5240362007 ## Job description ## About the role Muon seeks a Principal Software Engineer to join our Software Organization. This engineer will synthesize a broad understanding of the full Muon software architecture and roadmap with the unique needs of each potential mission, to plan and design the software solutions necessary for mission success.  They will guide the evolution of the common platform to benefit our customers and match market needs – partnering closely with peers in Business Development, Product Management, Systems Engineering and Hardware. They will identify early when there are key risks, as well as key opportunities to offer the customer more than they realize they can ask for. They will be a key component in enabling Muon's Software organization, and the company as a whole, to deliver what the customer needs, when they need it, so that we can successfully fulfill their mission as partners. The preferred location for this role is three days a week on-site at our San Jose, CA office, but alternative locations will be considered for the right candidate. ## Responsibilities - Work with Business Development to prioritize, design and align on staffing for the highest impact small projects that, if done early, will unlock major value for our customers. Then, guide those efforts to successful and timely impact. - Ensure that major, common customer needs are captured in organizational plans and the company's Product Roadmap. - Act as part of the group with stewardship over the architectural standards and guardrails within the Software organization, ensuring high engineering velocity for our teams, and security, reliability and performance for our systems. - Support the Customer Solutions Software Engineers in their engagements with our customers, and act as the escalation point for the most important customer discussions and design questions. Act as an accelerator for this entire group. - Ensure Software organizational plans and roadmaps for missions are aligned with the company's strategic framework. - Help to define training plans for software engineering. ## Qualifications - Expertise in whole-system design, holistic testing and deployment strategy, and the state of the art in software engineering methodology - Extensive knowledge of theory and practice across aerospace, robotics or an adjacent domain - Excellent negotiation skills in both organizational and technical contexts - Expertise in multiple programming languages - Expertise in distributed systems theory and practice Nice-to-have Skills - Expertise with C++ and Python - Experience with AWS, Kubernetes, containers and related cloud technologies - Experience with embedded software, high-performance computing, FPGA, or related domains - Experience with statistical analysis and/or machine learning Salary The salary range for this role is $266,000 - $298,000, 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. ## About Muon Space Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world. Taking Care of Our Team At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, full-time employees receive equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave. Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too.  Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know. Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA ITAR/EAR Requirements This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process. ## About Muon Space ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Muon Space designs, builds, and operates satellite constellations optimized for Earth observation and remote sensing missions for government and commercial customers. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: San Jose, California, USA (with additional offices in Mountain View, CA; Washington D.C. Metro Area; and Northern Virginia) - **Founded**: 2021 - **Founders**: Jonny Dyer (CEO/Co-founder), Dan McCleese (Chief Scientist/Co-founder), Pascal Stang (CTO/Co-founder), and Paul Day (VP Production/Co-founder) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Space Technology, Satellite Manufacturing, Earth Observation/Remote Sensing - **Target customers**: B2G (US Air Force, US Space Force, government agencies) and B2B (commercial agriculture companies like Hydrosat, private enterprises) - **Mission statement**: "Building constellations for a safe and resilient world" — empowering humanity to address global challenges and support a livable planet through advanced satellite technology. ## Products & Services - **Muon Halo™**: The company’s flagship integrated technology stack for satellite constellation development. It combines the MuSim digital engineering and simulation platform, the MuOS data-centric middleware architecture, and the MuSat and MuCore software-defined building blocks. This stack enables rapid, low-cost deployment of high-performance constellations using modular "CarefulCOTS" hardware and service-oriented software. - **Earth Intelligence**: A data and analytics offering that integrates physical sciences, aerospace engineering, software, and domain expertise to provide dynamic understanding of the planet for managing natural resources, enhancing safety/security, and supporting global challenges. - **Custom Satellite Constellation Services**: A three-phase approach (Design, Build, Operate) to deliver end-to-end satellite constellation development, from mission architecture optimization through manufacturing, launch, and ongoing operations. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed - **Key Metric**: Total funding raised — Muon Space has raised significant venture capital (Series B round closed; specific amount not cited in available sources but the company is well-capitalized for a space startup) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Partners include the USAF and USSF, Hydrosat (agriculture), and other government agencies and commercial organizations. The company is backed by leading venture investors in the space/defense sector. - **Growth Signals**: - Recognized as one of **America’s Greatest Startup Workplaces 2025** (by a workplace excellence award program) - Named one of **Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Space for 2025** for cutting-edge weather-monitoring satellites - Opened a high-mix satellite manufacturing facility in San Jose, indicating scaling production capacity - Growing headcount: currently listing **44 open positions** across engineering, operations, go-to-market, and G&A - Team includes industry veterans from Skybox, NASA, SpaceX, and other leading aerospace organizations ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertically Integrated Technology Stack**: Muon Halo™ combines digital simulation, middleware OS, and software-defined hardware into a unified platform, enabling faster time-to-orbit and lower costs than traditional bespoke satellite development. - **High-Mix Manufacturing**: A state-of-the-art production facility optimized for building diverse satellite configurations at volumes typical of standard bus lines — a rare capability in the industry. - **Proven Government & Commercial Traction**: Contracts with the US Air Force, US Space Force, and commercial partners like Hydrosat demonstrate credibility and recurring demand. - **Team Expertise**: Founders and leadership come from Skybox, NASA, SpaceX, and other top-tier organizations, bringing deep domain knowledge and a track record of execution. ## Strategic Focus - **Scaling Constellation Operations**: Moving from design/build phases to full operational constellations, with emphasis on automated planning, tasking, and data backhaul. - **Expanding Earth Intelligence Offerings**: Developing weather-monitoring and geospatial analytics to address climate, agriculture, and national security applications. - **Government & Defense Growth**: Deepening partnerships with US and allied government agencies for resilient space-based capabilities. - **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring across hardware, software, mission engineering, and business development to support rapid growth. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-Driven Work**: Employees contribute directly to global challenges like climate monitoring, natural resource management, and national security — with tangible impact from space. - **Award-Winning Culture**: Named one of America’s Greatest Startup Workplaces 2025; culture built on trust, technical excellence, and shared accountability. - **Top-Tier Team**: Work alongside industry veterans from Skybox, NASA, SpaceX, and other leading organizations. - **Benefits & Perks**: - 100% health, dental, and vision coverage for employees (85% for dependents) - Concierge medical via One Medical - 401(k) plan through Betterment, equity management via Carta - Generous parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers - Generous time-off policy - Fully stocked kitchen, catered lunch 3x/week at HQ - Dog-friendly office - **Work Model**: Hybrid/remote flexibility for many roles (some positions listed as "San Jose, CA or Remote"); hardware roles are primarily on-site at San Jose or Mountain View facilities. - **Growth Opportunities**: With 44 open positions and rapid scaling, there is significant potential for career advancement and impact in a high-growth startup. ## Sources 1. [muonspace.com](https://www.muonspace.com/) 2. [muonspace.com/about](https://www.muonspace.com/about) 3. [muonspace.com/careers](https://www.muonspace.com/careers) 4. [muonspace.com/life-at-muon](https://www.muonspace.com/life-at-muon) 5. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/muonspace](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/muonspace) ## Other roles at Muon Space - [Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-muon-space-mountain-view-d19e2xh3scev) — Mountain View, CA - [Staff Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-product-manager-muon-space-mountain-view-1r68yhs6s4qr) — Mountain View, CA - [Staff Program Manager - RF Sensing](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-program-manager-rf-sensing-muon-space-san-jose-j9nra8pna12d) — San Jose, CA - [Recruiting Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/recruiting-coordinator-muon-space-san-jose-wjpbg58qpes6) — San Jose, CA - [Senior Director, EO/IR Instrument Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-eo-ir-instrument-engineering-muon-space-mountain-view-adhaw5zyfbqc) — Mountain View, CA - [Mechanical Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-ii-muon-space-san-jose-y1xjv70kt77g) — San Jose, CA - [Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-muon-space-san-jose-68prf0xr9prb) — San Jose, CA - [Senior Software Engineer, Information Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-information-systems-muon-space-san-jose-mj7w6nt7bhjk) — San Jose, CA - [Software Engineering Manager, Information Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineering-manager-information-systems-muon-space-san-jose-13t2rs5k50w6) — San Jose, CA - [Ground Software Engineering Intern (Summer 2027)](https://feeny.ai/job/ground-software-engineering-intern-summer-2027-muon-space-san-jose-91tmwax9wgjy) — San Jose, CA