Optical Engineer, Lasers & Photonics

Cowboy Space Corp.; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

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

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corporation seeks an experienced optical engineer to design and validate space-based fiber laser systems in San Carlos, CA. You will develop high‑power lasers, splicing, and coherent receivers for space applications.

The role requires hands‑on fiber work, experience with amplifiers, and laser communications know‑how, including SBS/SPM effects, environmental validation, and space hardware readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with fiber-optic systems including splicing, component integration, and characterization.
• Experience with rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers.
• Familiarity with fiber-optic communications modulation formats.
• Experience operating OSAs, power meters, polarimeters, and high-speed oscilloscopes.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop high‑power fiber laser and amplifier systems for space‑based applications.
• Characterize laser sources including linewidth, phase noise, RIN, and spectral purity.
• Select, integrate, and qualify fiber‑optic components and subsystems for a space‑based platform.
• Perform and supervise fiber splicing and assembly of fiber‑optic subassemblies.
• Model and measure fiber nonlinearity effects including SBS and SPM.
• Design and align coherent fiber‑optic receivers.
• Develop and execute test plans for optical performance verification including BER, eye diagrams, and spectral measurements.
• Generate design specifications, assembly procedures, and test reports.

Skills

Fiber-optic systems

Rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers

OSEs/polarimeters/high-speed oscillosc

Education

Bachelor's degree in Optical Eng/Physics/Electrical Eng

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

OSAs

Power meters

Polarimeters

High-speed oscilloscopes

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 and develop high‑power fiber laser and amplifier systems for space‑based applications.

• Characterize laser sources including linewidth, phase noise, RIN, and spectral purity.

• Select, integrate, and qualify fiber‑optic components and subsystems for integration into a space‑based platform.

• Perform and supervise fiber splicing and assembly of fiber‑optic subassemblies.

• Model and measure fiber nonlinearity effects including SBS and SPM.

• Design and align coherent fiber‑optic receivers.

• Develop and execute test plans for optical performance verification including BER, eye diagrams, and spectral measurements.

• Generate design specifications, assembly procedures, and test reports.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience with fiber‑optic systems including splicing, component integration, and characterization.

• Experience with rare‑earth‑doped fiber amplifiers.

• Familiarity with fiber‑optic communications modulation formats.

• Experience operating OSAs, power meters, polarimeters, and high‑speed oscilloscopes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's or PhD in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.

• Hands‑on experience building and characterizing MOPA fiber amplifier chains.

• Familiarity with SBS, SPM, and other nonlinearity effects in high‑power fiber systems.

• Experience with interferometric optical receivers or coherent detection front‑ends.

• 5+ years of experience in a laser communications, defense, or aerospace photonics role.

• Experience with free‑space optical communications or LEO inter‑satellite links.

• Experience with environmental validation of space‑based laser systems (thermal‑vacuum, vibration, radiation).

• Experience with Class 4 laser lab environments.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $200,000 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.