Staff Engineer, Optics and RF

Cowboy Space; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid parental leave

Daily lunch and snacks in the office

Job summary

Cowboy Space in San Carlos is seeking an experienced RF Engineer to design and validate RF hardware for spacecraft communication. The role involves collaboration with engineering teams and focuses on high-performance RF subsystems.

Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and at least 5 years of relevant experience. The position offers a salary range of $128,000 - $175,000 annually along with equity, insurance benefits, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience designing RF or microwave hardware at the board level.
• Experience with RF simulation tools such as HFSS, ADS, CST, or similar.
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals: impedance matching, transmission lines, S-parameters.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF and microwave circuits for spacecraft.
• Architect and implement board-level RF hardware including amplifiers and filters.
• Develop validation and characterization plans using relevant test equipment.

Skills

RF design

Microwave circuits

Signal processing

PCB design

Communication systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's or PhD in relevant field

Tools

HFSS

CST

VNA

Oscilloscope

Spectrum Analyzer

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), powering on-orbit compute 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

The Avionics Team is looking for an RF Engineer to design, develop, and validate the RF hardware that enables communication, telemetry, command and control, and high-bandwidth data transport across our spacecraft platforms. This role is heavily focused on board-level RF design and integration, working closely with electrical, PCB layout, firmware, and test engineers to deliver high-performance RF subsystems capable of operating reliably in the space environment. You will own RF circuitry from architecture through flight qualification, helping build the communications backbone of the orbital economy.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop RF and microwave circuits for spacecraft communication, telemetry, tracking, and data transmission systems
• Architect and implement board-level RF hardware including LNAs, PAs, filters, mixers, synthesizers, oscillators, and frequency conversion chains
• Design and characterize high-speed digital signal paths (SerDes lanes, 25+ Gbps) including signal conditioning, switching, and equalization hardware
• Perform RF schematic capture, component selection, simulation, and analysis; characterize RF switches, variable attenuators, and amplifiers across the RF signal chain
• Partner closely with PCB layout engineers to optimize RF and high-speed board layouts — stackup selection, controlled impedance routing, coplanar waveguide structures, antipad geometry, and connector launch optimization
• Run 3D EM simulations in HFSS or CST — connector-to-microstrip transitions, via structures, and discontinuity characterization — and drive optimizer workflows to meet return loss and insertion loss targets
• Extract and validate S-parameters via simulation and measurement; work with Touchstone files across simulation, schematic, and measurement environments
• Develop and execute board-level validation and characterization plans using VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and BERTs
• Perform RF and signal integrity bring-up, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis on prototype and production hardware
• Support environmental testing including thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC, and radiation qualification activities
• Collaborate with systems engineers to define RF and signal integrity requirements and interface specifications
• Drive hardware designs from concept through manufacturing, integration, and flight deployment; script and automate simulation and EDB workflows where practical (Python/PyAEDT)

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 5+ years of experience designing RF or microwave hardware at the board level
• Experience with RF simulation tools such as HFSS, ADS, AWR Microwave Office, CST, or similar
• Hands‑on experience with VNAs, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, oscilloscopes, and power meters
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals: impedance matching, transmission lines, S-parameters, noise figure, gain, linearity, and frequency synthesis
• Familiarity with high-speed PCB design: controlled impedance, differential signaling, stackup selection, and signal integrity trade-offs

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Experience developing RF or high-speed hardware for aerospace, satellite, defense, or high-reliability applications
• Experience with high-frequency communications systems including S-band, X-band, Ku-band, Ka-band, or optical communications support electronics
• Experience designing solderless or press-fit connector launches and optimizing transition geometry for return loss at mmWave frequencies
• Experience scripting HFSS or EDB workflows in Python (PyAEDT, pyEDB) for simulation automation and layout-driven EM extraction
• Familiarity with high-speed SerDes signal chains including RF switches, variable attenuators, DC block design, and bias tee integration
• Experience with RF PCB layout: CPW routing, antipad sizing, via stitching, coplanar ground pours, and layer-to-layer transition design
• Experience with EMI/EMC design and qualification testing
• Familiarity with radiation-tolerant electronics and spaceflight hardware requirements
• Experience working in fast-paced startup environments

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $128,000 - $175,000 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.