Senior Mission Formulation Lead - RF/Comms

Muon Space is seeking a creative and technically rigorous Senior Mission Formulation Lead to join our Mission Innovation team. In this high-impact role, you will lead strategic capture efforts and drive exploration of new market opportunities through strategic foresight practices and innovative mission formulations, instrument capabilities, and space technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of mission formulation contracts, drive cross-functional team to deliver mission concepts, and support customer engagement and growth in RF and Comms domains.
• Lead strategic capture campaigns for high-value mission opportunities across government and commercial sectors related to Comms and other RF remote sensing disciplines.
• Drive execution of complex, multi-stage programs from early engagement and formulation through to design concepts, experiments, and mission delivery.
• Drive and support early-stage execution of R&D activities/proposals as Principal Investigator.
• Lead 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.
• Perform feasibility studies, literature reviews, and trade studies to support development of early-stage mission, instrument, and data concepts.
• Support customer discovery and engagement efforts, translating operational pain points and needs into technical requirements and conceptual solutions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, business development, and engineering teams to identify and develop new markets, products, and technologies.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Physics, Engineering, Remote Sensing, Computer Science, or a related technical/scientific field.
• 5+ years of experience in RF remote sensing or communications missions in technical or programmatic leadership roles.
• Strong foundation in first principles with demonstrated ability to decompose high-level mission objectives into technical concepts and solutions.
• Background in RF (passive and/or active) or similar payload phenomenologies as applied to remote sensing and communications applications.
• Experience in RF/Comms and related space missions across government and commercial markets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex scientific concepts for diverse audiences.
• Strong collaborative skills for working across disciplines including engineering, satellite operations, mission architecture, and business development.
• Existing TS/SCI clearance or ability to obtain and maintain.

Skills

• Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Julia) for space mission analysis and remote sensing concept development.
• Familiarity with early-stage business development and discovery processes.
• Training or demonstrated experience in strategic planning, roadmapping, or scenario planning.
• Familiarity with space systems development, especially satellite remote sensing.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $169,000 - $194,000, plus incentive compensation, competitive equity grant, and a comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Short & long-term disability and life insurance.
• Three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays.
• Unlimited sick time.
• Paid parental leave.

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.

This position requires access to export-controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees), eligible to access the information without required export authorization, or eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency.