Avionics Intern

RiseMe; Washington; On-site; USD 70,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Daily lunch in office

Fully stocked kitchen

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corporation, based in San Carlos, CA, invites undergrad and graduate students in STEM to join a quarter-long paid internship. The role focuses on RF/optical communications, spacecraft analysis, and avionics software development to advance space-based energy and data infrastructure.

You will design, simulate, and test systems, perform thermal and mechanical analyses, work with CAD and simulation tools, and contribute to hardware integration and documentation.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a STEM field (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Materials Science, or equivalent)
• Strong fundamentals in math, physics, or engineering
• Ability to work hands-on in labs and with test equipment
• Collaborative, self-directed work style; comfort with ambiguity and learning quickly

Responsibilities

• Design, simulation, and testing of RF/optical communication systems and components
• Spacecraft and launch vehicle analysis, thermal modeling, and mechanical design
• Firmware and software development for avionics, compute, and ground systems Testing, validation, and troubleshooting of hardware and subsystems
• PCB layout, electrical design, and integration of satellite components Propulsion system design, fluids analysis, and structural mechanics
• Data analysis, CAD modeling, and technical documentation

Skills

STEM student

Math/Physics fundamentals

Hands-on lab work

Collaborative work style

Education

STEM student enrollment

Tools

CAD (SolidWorks/Fusion 360/Creo)

Simulation tools (MATLAB/Python/STK)

Test equipment experience

Job description

About Cowboy Space Corp.

Mission

Cowboy Space Corporation is solving the global energy crisis by building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. We are tackling one of humanity’s most complex engineering challenges with a world-class team dedicated to delivering a revolutionary power platform. Cowboy Space Corporation is transforming how civilization powers, computes and connects - from orbit to Earth.

Background

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our modular, scalable satellites collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to enable multiple integrated applications: transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit high-performance computing clusters (GPU/TPU), and providing secure, high bandwidth optical data transport.

Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure. Cowboy Space Corporation overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable energy distribution and data processing from space. This will revolutionize how we operate in orbit and on Earth, supporting the rapidly expanding space industrial base, ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) operations, remote regions, and military bases.

Baiju Bhatt founded Cowboy Space Corporation in 2024. Inspired by his father’s work with NASA Langley Research Center, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before co-founding Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Cowboy Space Corporation has raised ~$365 million from Index Ventures, Interlagos, Construct Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Cowboy Space Corporation’s team has worked at places like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Astranis and NASA, and is based in San Carlos, CA. If you’re ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulation, and testing of RF/optical communication systems and components

• Spacecraft and launch vehicle analysis, thermal modeling, and mechanical design

• Firmware and software development for avionics, compute, and ground systems Testing, validation, and troubleshooting of hardware and subsystems

• PCB layout, electrical design, and integration of satellite components Propulsion system design, fluids analysis, and structural mechanics

• Data analysis, CAD modeling, and technical documentation

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a STEM field (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Materials Science, or equivalent)

• Strong fundamentals in math, physics, or engineering

• Ability to work hands-on in labs and with test equipment

• Collaborative, self-directed work style; comfort with ambiguity and learning quickly

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Creo) or simulation tools (MATLAB, Python, STK)

• Hands-on lab experience or maker/robotics background Familiarity with RF, thermal, or electrical systems

• Prior internship or project experience in aerospace, space, or hardware

• Experience with test equipment (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, multimeters)

Compensation

(Quarter-long internship) — Paid $1,800 weekly

• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

ITAR Requirements

• Export Control Requirement: To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Disclaimer

This job description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the job and position. It is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive listing of duties and responsibilities. Contents are subject to change at Cowboy Space Corp.’s discretion.

Cowboy Space Corp. is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Cowboy Space Corp. is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.