Mechanical Engineer - Spacecraft Components and Systems

Job description

About the role Muon seeks a Mechanical Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate can go deep on design and analysis but also has a "systems mindset" and will be a force multiplier collaborating with other disciplines to arrive at an elegant, well-balanced design. Being an early-stage startup with a small team, breadth is extremely important and we expect this person to dive into structural analysis, dynamics, thermal design, supplier management, and everything else associated with the full lifecycle of an electromechanical product. This is an individual contributor role focused on hands-on design, analysis, build support, and test execution for spacecraft mechanical hardware. This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week. Responsibilities Mechanical Design Create, review, and refine spacecraft component and subsystem mechanical designs in a modern CAD package (SolidWorks), managing small-to-medium assemblies Develop clean-sheet mechanical and structural designs through detailed design, consistent with the risk posture, development velocity, and deployment schedules at Muon Create quick concepts to drive early-phase discussions and inspire the team Influence flight designs to ensure hardware is optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and testability Make economically sound make vs. buy decisions, balancing the need to quickly demonstrate capability while understanding the path to scaled-up constellations Analysis Perform stress and dynamic analyses (hand calculations, simple FEM) to support and inform structural designs, including joint design, fastener sizing, and stiffness analyses Collaborate with structural and thermal analysts to iterate designs for performance and manufacturability Conduct trade studies to evaluate design alternatives and document recommendations Support mass budget tracking and tolerance stack-up analyses for mechanical assemblies Build & Integration Create and maintain build procedures, assembly instructions, and work orders for mechanical hardware Support and oversee technicians during assembly and integration of mechanical components and subsystems Identify and resolve fit, form, and function issues during hardware builds Drive designs toward producibility, considering prototype through production quantity needs Conduct first article inspections (FAIs) and document non-conformances; participate in MRB as needed Test & Verification Design test fixtures and GSE to support development, qualification, and acceptance testing Develop component and subsystem-level test plans and procedures for environmental testing (vibration, shock, TVAC) Specify and integrate test instrumentation (accelerometers, strain gauges, thermocouples, etc.) Execute and support environmental test campaigns; collect, reduce, and analyze test data Document test results and correlate with analysis predictions; recommend design updates as needed Documentation & Configuration Management Create and maintain engineering drawings with proper GD&T, BOMs, and revision control Author and maintain design documentation including trade studies, interface control documents (ICDs), and design rationale Execute ECOs/DCOs and maintain configuration control through PLM systems Document lessons learned from builds and tests to inform future designs Collaboration & Coordination Own delivery of mechanical items and subsystems, coordinating with analysts, avionics, program, thermal, optical, and RF engineers Manage development of mechanical/structural architectures through detailed design in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders Coordinate with external vendors for part prototyping and development; review vendor deliverables for compliance with requirements Present design status, trade studies, and test results at design reviews Required Qualifications 5 years of experience designing, building, and testing flight hardware in the space industry (or similar: aerospace, autonomous vehicles, robotics, etc.) B.S. or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred) for component and assembly design Experience with engineering drawings, GD&T, BOMs, and ECO processes Demonstrated experience executing structural or environmental tests and documenting results Hands-on experience supporting hardware builds and integration activities Strong documentation skills: ability to author clear build procedures, test plans, and technical reports Excellent communication, presentation, and cross-functional coordination skills A desire to change the way the world understands and reacts to climate and environmental data Excited to work in a fast-paced environment with new opportunities each week Nice-to-Have Skills Experience with deployable structures (solar arrays, antennas, mechanisms) or SADA mechanisms Experience running structural analyses for spacecraft (FEMAP, ANSYS, Nastran) Experience with thermal management systems for spacecraft Experience designing and executing qualification-level environmental tests (vibration, TVAC, shock) Large assembly management in SolidWorks PDM; experience with PLM systems (Duro or similar) Optomechanical instrument or payload design Experience with composite materials and bonded assemblies Experience managing external vendors for part prototyping and development Software skills in Python, MATLAB, or similar for data analysis and automation Familiarity with FAI processes, non-conformance reporting, and MRB activities Google Workspace proficiency (Sheets, Slides, Docs); Slack Salary The salary range for this role is $144,000 - $177,000 plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be 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.