Fluids Engineer - Propulsion Valves, Ducts, Lines

Cowboy Space; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Parental leave

Relocation assistance

Office lunch

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Fluids Engineer to own a critical fluid subsystem from concept to flight, working across propulsion, thermal, and pneumatic systems. This hands‑on role sits at the heart of hardware development for a fast‑moving startup.

The position emphasizes designing for minimum mass, conducting analyses, and leading qualification campaigns, with collaboration across manufacturing and test operations to ensure mission success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware for flight vehicles or high‑performance hardware.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through build, integration, and test.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, structural mechanics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with fluid system analysis: pressure drop and flow sizing, structural analysis of pressure vessels, or thermal‑fluid modeling.
• Proficiency with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo) and creating engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.

Responsibilities

• Own your fluid subsystem from concept through design, analysis, test, and flight.
• Drive fluid component and system designs for minimum mass while meeting pressure drop, proof, burst, leakage, cycle‑life, and operating‑life requirements across ground, ascent, and on‑orbit environments.
• Design valves, fluid routing architectures, and fluid storage hardware for propellant, pneumatic, and thermal fluid service on rocket engines and vehicle fluid systems.
• Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision.
• Perform analysis — hand calculations, FEA, tolerance stack‑ups — and validate predictions with test and flight data.
• Own fluid subsystem layout and integration, ensuring compatibility across propulsion, thermal, and pneumatic systems.
• Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns (proof, burst, leak, flow, cycle life, vibration); author procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions.
• Develop and maintain engineering drawings, models, specifications, interface control documents, and release documentation.
• Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing and technicians to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time.
• Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements.
• Support engine and vehicle integration, hot‑fire and fill/drain operations, ground system interfaces, post‑test inspection, and refurbishment planning.

Skills

Fluid systems design

CAD proficiency

Analysis (hand calculations, FEA)

Test & integration

Prototyping/manufacturing interaction

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

CATIA

Creo

Job description

Fluids Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of capabilities—from powering on‑orbit compute, to transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space‑to‑earth and space‑to‑space), to delivering secure, high‑bandwidth optical data. By rethinking how energy and data are generated and distributed in space, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to operate both in orbit and on Earth. Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co‑founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space Corp. is backed by leading investors and built by a team from top aerospace and defense organizations. We’re moving quickly to solve complex technical challenges and build a new category of space infrastructure.

About the Role

As a Fluids Engineer, you will own a critical fluid system from concept through flight. Depending on your background and team priorities, your assignment will be on Propulsion fluid design (main propulsion valves, throttling valves, Engine fluid routing and manifolding, etc), Vehicle propulsion feed systems (prevalves, propellant feedlines, etc), Vehicle tank pressure controls (vent valves, repress system, etc), or vehicle pneumatic systems (inert gas valves, regulators, fluid routing, and storage for actuation and control). This is a hands‑on role at the center of propulsion and vehicle hardware development. You will work closely with propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and test operations to design integrated systems, build hardware, and validate through test. You’ll be expected to move quickly, iterate often, and take full ownership of fluid hardware that directly impacts mission success.

Responsibilities

• Own your fluid subsystem from concept through design, analysis, test, and flight.
• Drive fluid component and system designs for minimum mass while meeting pressure drop, proof, burst, leakage, cycle‑life, and operating‑life requirements across ground, ascent, and on‑orbit environments.
• Design valves, fluid routing architectures, and fluid storage hardware for propellant, pneumatic, and thermal fluid service on rocket engines and vehicle fluid systems.
• Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision.
• Perform analysis — hand calculations, FEA, tolerance stack‑ups — and validate predictions with test and flight data.
• Own fluid subsystem layout and integration, ensuring compatibility across propulsion, thermal, and pneumatic systems.
• Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns (proof, burst, leak, flow, cycle life, vibration); author procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions.
• Develop and maintain engineering drawings, models, specifications, interface control documents, and release documentation.
• Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing and technicians to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time.
• Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements.
• Support engine and vehicle integration, hot‑fire and fill/drain operations, ground system interfaces, post‑test inspection, and refurbishment planning.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware (valves, regulators, tanks and pressure vessels, tubing, fittings, or manifolds) for flight vehicles or high‑performance hardware.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through build, integration, and test.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, structural mechanics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with fluid system analysis: pressure drop and flow sizing, structural analysis of pressure vessels, or thermal‑fluid modeling.
• Proficiency with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo) and creating engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware for flight vehicles or high‑performance hardware.
• Direct experience with rocket engine, launch vehicle, or spacecraft propulsion fluid systems.
• Experience designing or qualifying valves (solenoid, pneumatic, hydraulic, or mechanically actuated) and pressure regulators.
• Familiarity with cryogenic fluid handling, storage, and insulation systems.
• Knowledge of material and seal compatibility with common propellants (LOX, methane, RP‑1, etc) and pressurants (helium, nitrogen), including oxygen‑compatible design practice.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards (AIAA S‑080/S‑081, ASME BPVC, SAE, and MIL‑spec fluid fitting and pressure vessel standards).
• Hands‑on prototyping, machining, brazing, or welding experience.
• Experience supporting propulsion hot‑fire testing or vehicle fill/drain operations.
• Experience at a fast‑moving, hardware‑focused startup or early‑stage program.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $130,000 – $195,000 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

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.