Orbital Fluids Analyst — Propulsion Systems

Cowboy Space Corp.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid time off

10 holidays per year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Lunch in the office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Fluids Analyst to own the fluids prediction lifecycle, from first-order sizing models to flight-ready correlations. You will build 1D network models, run CFD as needed, and work with propulsion, thermal, and test teams to define objectives and limits.

This hands-on role requires 5+ years in fluid analysis for high-performance hardware, strong fundamentals, Python or MATLAB, and experience with 1D tools and CFD. U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or Chemical Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience fluid system analysis for flight vehicles or high-performance hardware.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
• Experience building 1D fluid models and CFD for internal flow problems.
• Proficiency in Python or MATLAB for modeling and data reduction.
• Ability to interpret real test data and correlate with predictions.
• U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible for ITAR.

Responsibilities

• Own fluids prediction life cycle from sizing to flight-ready models.
• Build 1D fluid networks and transient models for pressure and thermal performance.
• Run early-phase simulations to inform architecture and valve sizing.
• Predict flow budgets, line losses, and cavitation margins.
• Analyze transient behavior: water hammer, priming, ullage.
• Perform CFD for valves and manifolds to resolve losses.
• Conduct thermal-fluid analysis including two-phase and cryogenic behavior.
• Define instrumentation and measurement requirements.
• Support test campaigns with analysis-driven objectives.
• Reduce and analyze fluids test data; build data pipelines.
• Correlate models with test/flight data; update models.
• Maintain analysis methods and validation standards.
• Perform anomaly investigations and root-cause analysis.
• Communicate results clearly to designers and leadership.

Skills

Fluid mechanics

Thermodynamics

Two-phase flow

Transient analysis

1D fluid modeling

Flownex/AFT/EASY5/GFSSP/Simulink

CFD tools (ANSYS/STAR-CCM+/OpenFOAM)

Python/MATLAB

Data reduction & analysis

Test data correlation

Education

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

Tools

Flownex

AFT

EASY5

GFSSP

Simulink

ANSYS Fluent

STAR-CCM+

OpenFOAM

Job description

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Fluids Analyst to own the fluids prediction lifecycle, from first-order sizing models to flight-ready correlations. You will build 1D network models, run CFD as needed, and work with propulsion, thermal, and test teams to define objectives and limits.

This hands-on role requires 5+ years in fluid analysis for high-performance hardware, strong fundamentals, Python or MATLAB, and experience with 1D tools and CFD. U.S.