Camera Test Engineer II Verified today

About the role

Muon seeks a hands-on, automation-focused Camera Test Engineer II to join our team in Mountain View, CA. In this role, you will bridge the gap between camera system design and flight hardware verification for our next-generation infrared remote sensing instruments. You will own the execution of test campaigns to characterize and space-qualify advanced camera subsystems, including VSWIR and cooled IR cameras.

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

Responsibilities

• Translate camera system-level requirements into detailed test procedures. Develop and maintain Python-based automated test scripts for instrument control, data logging, and efficient execution of camera test suites.
• Conduct electro-optical performance testing of VSWIR and IR cameras. Measure and analyze critical metrics such as dark current, quantum efficiency (QE), noise equivalent differential temperature (NEDT), non-uniformity correction (NUC), bad pixel mapping, and spectral filter throughput.
• Design, build, and maintain electrical and optical ground support equipment (EGSE/OGSE), including the integration of test sources such as blackbodies and integrating spheres.
• Lead camera-level testing and characterization in partnership with environmental test teams for thermal environmental stress screening (ESS), thermal vacuum (TVAC), radiation, and vibration test campaigns.
• Perform rigorous post-processing of test data, identify performance anomalies, and participate in interdisciplinary root-cause analysis for camera or sensor failures.
• Collaborate with Camera Systems Engineers and Optical Test Engineers to ensure comprehensive verification of the camera subsystem.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. and experience working with detectors, imaging systems, or infrared remote sensing instruments within a multi-disciplinary environment; or M.S. and 3+ years industry experience; or B.S. and 5+ years industry experience.
• Strong programming skills in Python specifically applied to instrument automation, hardware interfacing, and scientific data analysis (e.g., NumPy, SciPy).
• Proven experience working with precision electrical and optical metrology test hardware.
• Experience performing statistical data analysis, post-processing, and test report generation for optical component and detector or camera system performance.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organization skills.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Basic proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred) for designing simple test fixtures, brackets, or alignment adapters.
• Experience operating small thermal ovens and TVAC chambers.
• Experience working in cleanroom environments.

Compensation

Salary range: $159,000 - $184,000, plus competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

Benefits

Full-time employees receive equity compensation, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k retirement plan, short and long-term disability and life insurance, three weeks paid vacation for new employees, 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time, and paid parental leave.