MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Muon Space, an end-to-end space systems and mission-optimized satellite constellations firm, has announced a major expansion of its executive leadership team. This strategic move comes on the heels of a $146 million Series B funding round, the acquisition of propulsion innovator Starlight Engines, and a tenfold increase in production capacity—positioning the company to deliver up to 500 satellites annually for commercial and national security clients.
The newly appointed executives bring a wealth of expertise from government agencies, aerospace giants, commercial space ventures, and advanced technology firms. Their collective backgrounds span the Space Development Agency (SDA), Raytheon, Loft Orbital, Google, and more, underscoring Muon Space’s commitment to assembling top-tier talent.
“We’re assembling top talent across every domain to build a truly end-to-end space systems company,” said Greg Smirin, President of Muon Space. “This is a strategic investment in the people and infrastructure that will enable us to scale with purpose and lead in the next era of space innovation.”
Key Executive Appointments
Paula Trimble, VP of Government Affairs and Strategy
Trimble joins Muon Space after serving as Policy Chief and Director of Legislative Affairs at the SDA, where she led congressional engagement and streamlined acquisition strategies for next-generation missile tracking and tactical satellite communications. Her extensive government service includes roles at the Department of Defense’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office, the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commercialization, and the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Trimble’s appointment signals Muon’s growing influence as a trusted partner across defense, climate, and space domain awareness missions.
Carl Nardell, VP of Mission Engineering
Nardell brings over two decades of technical leadership in aerospace, defense, and commercial technology. He previously held senior engineering roles at Raytheon Technologies, Google’s Skybox Imaging, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and served as CEO of Michigan Aerospace Corp. Nardell will spearhead Muon’s mission architecture and systems engineering, focusing on resilient, high-performance spacecraft for diverse users.
Gautier Brunet, VP of Product
Brunet will oversee product strategy and roadmap alignment across Muon’s hardware, software, and mission operations. His experience includes leadership roles at Loft Orbital as VP of Sales and Business Development, COO at ThrustMe, and engineering positions at Airbus and the European Space Agency.
Ryan Gray, Chief Financial Officer
Gray assumes responsibility for Muon’s financial operations, strategy, and long-term planning. With more than 25 years of finance leadership, Gray has served as CFO at Powin Energy and Planar Systems, and held senior roles at Tektronix, Merant, and Radisys. He is recognized for expertise in capital management, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
Shirley Paley, Chief Legal Officer
Paley will guide Muon’s legal, regulatory, and corporate governance strategy. Her background includes CLO at Formlabs, General Counsel at Catalant Technologies, and senior legal roles at Demandware (acquired by Salesforce) and Sonus Networks. Paley began her legal career at Goodwin Procter LLP and clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
These executive hires follow a period of rapid growth and investment for Muon Space:
- $146 Million Series B Funding: Muon’s recent oversubscribed Series B round, led by Congruent Ventures and joined by Activate Capital, Acme Capital, Costanoa Ventures, Radical Ventures, and ArcTern Ventures, is fueling major operational scale-up.
- Acquisition of Starlight Engines: By bringing propulsion technology in-house, Muon is enhancing its vertical integration and advancing its proprietary Halo™ satellite platform.
- Production Expansion: The company’s new 130,000-square-foot facility in San Jose, California, supports manufacturing and testing for up to 500 satellites per year, a tenfold increase over previous capacity.
Founded in 2021, Muon Space is dedicated to designing, building, and operating mission-optimized satellite constellations that deliver critical data for real-time decision-making in space. Its proprietary Halo™ technology stack integrates advanced spacecraft platforms, robust payload management, and a software-defined orchestration layer, enabling rapid deployment from concept to orbit.
With a growing roster of commercial and national security customers, and a team drawn from the world’s top aerospace, autonomy, and climate science organizations, Muon Space is setting new standards for speed, scale, and performance in the satellite industry.
Muon Space’s latest leadership appointments and infrastructure investments underscore its ambition to lead the next era of space innovation. As the company scales its Halo platform for Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and national security missions, it is poised to deliver high-performance satellite constellations at unprecedented speed and scale.
