Staff Software Engineer, Onboard Compute Architecture
Muon SpaceBase Salary
$210k - $234k/yr
Responsibilities
- Own the software, data-flow, and computation architecture and design process for onboard high-performance compute.
- Drive end-to-end requirements and design alignment with Electrical Engineering and Product teams.
- Gather architectural requirements across payload, mission operations, program management, and future mission concepts and translate them into a compute roadmap.
- Unify architectural concepts into a coherent, documented company-wide HPC architecture.
- Align FPGA, GPU, CPU, onboard networking, timing, data flows, processing pipelines, and compute partitioning across disciplines.
- Define modular, configurable, network-first compute components that can be reused across mission-specific spacecraft configurations.
- Partner with Electrical Engineering to ensure architecture decisions can be implemented through silicon procurement, PCB and module design, and harness design.
- Communicate architecture through diagrams, design documents, white papers, and technical talks for technical and executive audiences.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, plus 7+ years of professional experience in system-level or compute-platform architecture and implementation.
- Deep hands-on implementation experience across software, API design, FPGA programming, GPU programming, or low-level networking software.
- Proven experience architecting heterogeneous compute systems combining FPGA, GPU, and CPU elements, ideally in embedded, aerospace, or high-performance edge environments.
- Deep understanding of onboard networking and data-flow architectures, including Ethernet, DMA, zero-copy, and real-time streaming pipelines.
- Demonstrated ability to drive cross-team architectural consensus across hardware, firmware, and software disciplines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including producing architecture documents and roadmap materials for technical and executive audiences.
- Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; active clearance is a plus.
- Nice-to-have experience includes spacecraft avionics, payload compute, space-grade FPGA/GPU platforms, Ethernet or SpaceWire, modular mission-configurable compute platforms, safety- or mission-critical development processes, and architectural white papers or public technical publications.
Benefits
- Hybrid work arrangement requiring on-site work in the San Jose, California office three days per week.
- Equity compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan, short- and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
- Three weeks of paid vacation for new employees, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time, and paid parental leave.
Categories
About Muon Space
Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end space systems company that designs, builds, and operates mission-optimized satellite constellations to deliver critical data and enable real-time compute and decision-making in space. Its proprietary technology stack, Halo™, integrates advanced spacecraft platforms, robust payload integration and management, and a powerful software-defined orchestration layer to enable high-performance capabilities at unprecedented speed – from concept to orbit. With state-of-the-art production facilities in Silicon Valley and a growing track record of defense, civil, and commercial and national security customers, Muon Space is redefining how mission-critical intelligence is delivered from space. For more information on Muon Space, visit: https://www.muonspace.com/