About the role

Muon Space is expanding its High Performance Compute (HPC) team to accelerate mission-critical data products and unlock a growing pipeline of computer-vision and ML workloads across ground and flight systems.

This role works directly with the team that produces our image data products. You'll design and implement the image processing algorithms and models that power Muon's ground and flight products, including segmentation, feature classification, labeling, traditional image computation, and related tasks, with a strong emphasis on low latency and deployability onto cloud data centers and the edge. You'll also own the processing and ML data engineering foundation.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Design, train, evaluate, and iterate on image processing models for Muon's ground processing and onboard flight systems.
• Build and own the image and ML data engineering foundation.
• Optimize algorithms and models for low latency operation on cloud compute environments, and edge/onboard deployment in constraint environments.
• Contribute to high-performance reference algorithms and implementations and benchmark them.
• Hand algorithms and models off into the cloud serving stack and partner with mission and payload teams to define requirement needs and acceptance criteria.
• Own verification and validation, including unit, integration, and performance regression tests.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Math, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of professional experience developing ,shipping, and operating image computation or ML systems.
• Strong PyTorch skills, including designing, training, and evaluating models end-to-end.
• Demonstrated production experience with low-latency image computation models, deployed as containerized workloads on cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred).
• Hands-on ML data engineering: dataset curation, labeling, and versioning for training and evaluation. Measuring and improving algorithmic quality and performance.
• Strong Python skills beyond notebooks: tested, packaged, code-reviewed code that runs unattended in production.
• Strong written and verbal communication and ability to lead and conclude cross-functional technical discussions.
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. Active clearance is a plus.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Geospatial or remote-sensing imagery (optical, IR, SAR).
• Active-learning, data-centric ML, or labeling workflows.
• Deploying computer vision or image processing models to edge or embedded targets.
• GPU acceleration (CUDA, HIP, or similar).
• CI/CD for containerized workloads, including performance regression testing.
• Direct exposure to space, aerospace, or other mission-critical software environments.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $212,000 - $233,000.00, 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.