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Salary: USD 183,000 - 198,000 / annual
Muon Space seeks a Senior Photovoltaics / Solar Array Engineer to own the complete lifecycle of photovoltaic systems powering their LEO satellite constellations. You will serve as the technical owner for solar cell selection and qualification, encapsulation and lamination processes, array electrical architecture, and array-level performance prediction. This is a foundational role in Muon's new Solar & Deployables hardware group.
Key responsibilities include: leading solar cell selection and qualification (procurement, screening, radiation/thermal characterization); building and managing partnerships with solar cell vendors and manufacturers; defining array electrical architecture (string sizing, blocking/bypass diodes, grounding, bonding, layout); optimizing total system efficiency across mass, power, and cost; developing and maintaining array performance predictions (BOL/EOL, radiation degradation, thermal derating); owning encapsulation, lamination, and bonding processes; managing array and coupon qualification including environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, thermal cycling); collaborating with mechanical, structural, and thermal engineers on design iteration; documenting photovoltaics best practices and design standards; and mentoring junior engineers as arrays scale from prototypes to constellation quantities.
Required: 8+ years designing and testing high-reliability hardware, with 5+ years in solar arrays or photovoltaic systems. Strong understanding of solar cell physics (single, double, triple junction cells). Hands-on experience with space solar cell selection/screening, encapsulation/lamination, or array electrical design. Working knowledge of array performance prediction and power budgeting. Experience with array/coupon qualification and environmental testing. Systems-level thinking across electrical, mechanical, thermal, and power domains. Proficiency with CAD, PLM, test equipment, drawings, GD&T, BOMs, and mass/power budgets. Strong documentation and communication skills. B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field.
Nice-to-have: Flight heritage with space-qualified solar arrays; direct IMM space solar cell and coverglass experience; array electrical modeling and radiation-degradation methods (EQFLUX, displacement damage dose); in-house panel lamination process experience; grounding/bonding/ESD mitigation for high-voltage arrays; array substrate/panel mechanical design; Python, MATLAB, or similar software skills.
Role requires onsite presence three days per week at San Jose location.
