Controls Software Engineer, Pointing & Tracking

Cowboy Space Corp.; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

10 holidays per year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Daily lunch in the office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Controls Software Engineer to own the software control loop that keeps laser pointing accurately between moving platforms, in a real-time embedded environment.

You will translate control theory into robust software and own the system end-to-end. Ideal candidates have 3+ years in control systems or embedded software, strong Rust/C/C++ skills, and experience with real-time systems or HIL testing.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in control systems, robotics, or embedded software development.

Responsibilities

• Own the pointing and tracking control loop from design through on-orbit operations.
• Design, implement, and tune closed-loop controllers for optical links between moving platforms.
• Translate control theory into real-time embedded software in Rust.
• Perform stability analysis, closed-loop tuning, and performance characterization of control algorithms.
• Build simulation and analysis tools to model, validate, and iterate on control system behavior.
• Support hardware integration and hardware-in-the-loop testing of the sensing-to-actuation chain.
• Develop automated test frameworks to validate control performance across conditions.
• Collaborate with GNC, optics, avionics, and firmware teams to define interfaces.
• Investigate on-orbit/test anomalies and drive fixes across software/hardware boundaries.
• Develop fault detection, isolation, and recovery strategies.

Skills

Control systems

GNC

Embedded software

Rust

Real-time programming

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace Eng, Electrical Eng, Mechanical Eng, Robotics, CS

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python tooling

Kalman filters

Job description

About Cowboy Space Corp:

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.

Mission

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.

The Role

As a Controls Software Engineer on the Pointing & Tracking team, you will own the software control loop that keeps a laser precisely pointed between two moving platforms, both satellite-to-ground and satellite-to-satellite. You will use closed-loop feedback from onboard sensors to drive fine-pointing actuators in an embedded real-time environment. This is control-systems software, not general application development: the core of the job is translating control theory into a robust, working real-time implementation and taking dedicated ownership of a system that is central to our mission.

Responsibilities

• Own the pointing and tracking control loop from design through on-orbit operations
• Design, implement, and tune closed-loop controllers that keep optical links precisely pointed between moving platforms
• Translate control theory (e.g., state estimation, PID, state-space, optimal control methods) into real-time embedded software in Rust
• Perform stability analysis, closed-loop tuning, and performance characterization of control algorithms
• Build simulation and analysis tools to model, validate, and iterate on control system behavior
• Support hardware integration and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing of the full sensing-to-actuation chain
• Develop automated test frameworks to validate control performance across operating conditions
• Collaborate with GNC, optics, avionics, and firmware teams to define interfaces and system-level pointing architecture
• Investigate on-orbit and test anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and drive fixes across software and hardware boundaries
• Develop fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience (or equivalent practical experience) in control systems, GNC, robotics, or embedded software development
• Hands-on experience designing, implementing, and tuning closed-loop control systems
• Strong understanding of control theory fundamentals
• Strong programming skills in a systems language (e.g., Rust, C, or C++) with willingness to work in Rust
• Experience implementing control algorithms in a real-time or embedded context
• Experience integrating software with sensors and actuators, including debugging across the hardware/software boundary

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field
• Experience with precision pointing, tracking, stabilization, or gimbal control systems (e.g., optical terminals, telescopes, seekers, camera stabilization, or similar)
• Experience with spacecraft GNC, attitude control, or other high-reliability control applications in aerospace, defense, or robotics
• Professional experience writing Rust
• Experience with control system modeling, simulation, and analysis tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python-based tooling)
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and system validation
• Familiarity with estimation and sensor fusion techniques (e.g., Kalman filters)
• Understanding of fault-tolerant design and high-reliability system architecture
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-ownership environments with rapid iteration cycles

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $170,000 - $192,000 annually. The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid time off

10 paid holidays per calendar year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance if applicable

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.