Senior Software Engineer, Ground Station Platform

Muon Space
San Jose, CA
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Geared toward experienced engineers comfortable with distributed systems and mission-critical service development, with a focus on collaboration and on-site presence in San Jose, CA.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years of experience in building scalable backend systems and mentoring others
    — “8+ years of software engineering experience, with strong proficiency in Python, C++, or Rust, in production environments.”
  • Individuals who thrive in cross-functional teams and take ownership of full feature lifecycles
    — “Take ownership of features from concept through deployment and ongoing operation.”
  • Engineers with a strong background in cloud-native infrastructure and observability
    — “Knowledge of cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., containers, service orchestration, observability stacks).”

Things to consider

  • Requires on-site presence in San Jose, CA for three days per week despite being a hybrid role
    — “This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week.”
  • Must comply with U.S. export regulations, which could limit eligibility for non-U.S. citizens
    — “This position requires access to export controlled information.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with end-to-end platform development and system optimization
    — “Design, build, and evolve high-performance systems that are scalable, resilient, and reliable.”
  • Showcase a history of translating business needs into technical solutions
    — “Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business and product needs into well-crafted technical solutions.”
  • Emphasize contributions to mission-critical systems with uptime and reliability guarantees
    — “Demonstrated experience building and operating mission-critical services with uptime, reliability, and performance requirements.”
  • Demonstrate skills in debugging, profiling, and optimizing production systems
    — “Strong debugging, profiling, and code optimization skills.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • design and build high-performance systems
  • contribute to architectural decisions
  • identify and resolve production issues
  • mentor junior engineers
Typical background
8+ years of software engineering experienceBS/MS in Computer Science or related field

Skills & requirements

Required

PythonC++RustDistributed SystemsCloud-native InfrastructureDebuggingProfilingCode Optimization

Preferred

Real-time Data Processing PipelinesHigh-throughput SystemsCi/cd PipelinesInfrastructure-as-codeAutomated Deployment WorkflowsOpen-source ContributionsTechnical Writing

Stack & domain

PythonC++RustDistributed SystemsBackend ServicesPlatform DevelopmentCloud-native InfrastructureContainersService OrchestrationObservability StacksDebuggingProfilingCode OptimizationMentoringCross-functional CollaborationSoftware Engineering

About the role

Original posting from Muon Space via Greenhouse

About the role

Muon is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our team and help scale our core platforms. In this role, you'll design foundational architecture, ship customer-facing features with real, immediate impact, and tackle a wide range of complex technical challenges.

You'll work within a tight-knit team that values open communication, cross-functional collaboration, and moving quickly without cutting corners. You'll partner closely with other engineering teams to translate business needs into reliable, well-crafted solutions. Whether you're building something from scratch or improving what already exists, you'll have a direct hand in shaping the systems our customers depend on every day.

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

Responsibilities

Design, build, and evolve high-performance systems that are scalable, resilient, and reliable.

Work across the stack, and cross-functionally to deliver end-to-end platform capabilities.

Contribute to architectural decisions that shape the long-term direction of our core systems.

Identify and resolve bottlenecks, performance issues, and systemic risks in production environments.

Partner with cross-functional teams to translate business and product needs into well-crafted technical solutions.

Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and knowledge sharing across teams.

Take ownership of features from concept through deployment and ongoing operation.

Qualifications 

BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field OR equivalent industry experience.

8+ years of software engineering experience, with strong proficiency in Python, C++, or Rust, in production environments.

Experience in distributed systems, backend services, or platform development.

Demonstrated experience building and operating mission-critical services with uptime, reliability, and performance requirements

Knowledge of cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., containers, service orchestration, observability stacks).

Strong debugging, profiling, and code optimization skills.

Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading medium to large technical initiatives.

Nice-to-have Skills 

Comfort working in a highly interdisciplinary environment with engineers, operators, and domain specialists.

Familiarity with real-time data processing pipelines or high-throughput systems.

Experience with CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, or automated deployment workflows.

Contributions to open-source projects or a track record of technical writing and knowledge sharing.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $213,000 - $237,000, 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.

Source: Muon Space careers (Greenhouse)

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