Senior Instrument Scientist, Calibration Testing

About the role

Muon's Instrument Science team, part of our broader Electro-Optical/Infrared Instruments organization, defines the science, models and calibrates the instrument, and validates its performance, translating physics into orbital capability from concept through end of life. As our Senior Instrument Scientist responsible for Calibration Testing, you will own the hardware and software infrastructure used to calibrate the instrument on the ground, define the test procedures that execute our calibration methodology, and deliver the calibration results and reports that validate the instrument's readiness for flight.

This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our Mountain View office three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Develop hardware and software infrastructure for ground calibration.
• Define ground-calibration test procedures, including campaigns run with the instrument integrated on the spacecraft or on ground testbeds.
• Deliver ground-calibration results and reports.
• Partner with the Instrument Scientist responsible for Calibration Design to ensure calibration methodology can be executed with ground test infrastructure.
• Participate in a twenty-four-hour, seven-day on-call rotation to support on-orbit anomaly resolution. The on-call rotation is approximately one week every month and a half.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree in engineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience building or operating ground calibration test infrastructure for imaging systems, remote sensing instruments, or comparable electro-optical hardware, including comfort operating flight software during integrated test campaigns.
• Hands-on experience with calibration equipment such as integrating spheres, blackbodies, collimators, or autocollimators, as well as spacecraft testbeds used for integrated test campaigns.
• Software proficiency in one or more languages, such as Python, Julia, or C++, including experience writing code that others depend on, tested, reviewed, and maintained in a shared codebase.
• Strong communication skills, comfortable delivering calibration results and reports across Instrument Assembly, Integration and Test, and the Infrared Data Product team.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience with visible and infrared sensors, and scanner characterization.
• Exposure to radiometric or geometric calibration methodology.
• Experience with calibration uncertainty analysis and error budgeting.
• Experience supporting calibration data validation with downstream data product teams.
• Experience working in cleanroom environments or handling sensitive electro-optical hardware.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $197,000 - $218,000, 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.