Senior Avionics Engineer

Cowboy Space; San Carlos (CA); On-site; CAD 209,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

10 paid holidays per year

Relocation assistance

Daily lunch in office

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corporation is seeking a Senior Avionics Engineer to design, develop, and validate electrical systems for advanced satellites. You will work with software, mechanical, and compute teams to meet stringent space-grade requirements.

Responsibilities include power management, FPGA boards, schematics, PCB layouts, and harness design, with heavy emphasis on environmental testing and documentation. Join a fast-growing space company in a pivotal role.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in electrical design, aerospace, satellites, or computing systems.
• Experience with circuit simulation and lab testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and test electrical hardware for satellite subsystems and compute power management.
• Develop schematics, PCB designs, and harness diagrams for laser and satellite subsystems.
• Test and debug electrical hardware under varied environmental conditions.
• Collaborate with software, mechanical, and thermal teams for system integration.
• Maintain design documentation and test plans.
• Support environmental testing (TVAC, vibration, EMI) for space-qualification.
• Participate in design reviews and recommend improvements.
• Keep up-to-date with new technologies and improve lab processes.

Skills

Circuit simulation

PCB design

Power management

FPGA

Lab equipment

Troubleshooting

CAD tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree (Preferred)

Tools

LTspice

Altium

OrCAD

Job description

Senior Avionics Engineer (Kent)

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.

About the Role:

The Senior Avionics Engineer role is responsible for the design, development, and integration of electrical systems supporting advanced data center satellites. You will collaborate with software, mechanical, and compute engineers to develop solutions that meet rigorous performance standards for space applications.

Responsibilities:

• Design and test electrical hardware for satellite subsystems, focusing on compute power management, FPGA based boards, and signal processing.

• Develop and maintain schematics, PCB designs, and harness diagrams for laser systems and satellite subsystems.

• Perform testing and debugging of electrical hardware, ensuring robust operation under various environmental conditions.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (software, mechanical, and thermal engineers) to ensure seamless integration and system-level functionality.

• Maintain detailed technical documentation, including system requirements, design specifications, and test plans.

• Support environmental testing and validation, including thermal-vacuum, vibration, and electromagnetic interference tests to ensure space-qualification of electrical subsystems.

• Participate in customer and internal design reviews, providing technical insights and recommendations for system improvements.

• Stay up‑to‑date with emerging technologies and industry trends, and continuously improve the design and development process in the electrical engineering lab.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.

• 5+ years of experience in electrical design, preferably in aerospace, satellite, or computing systems.

• Circuit simulation and analysis experience using tools such as LTspice and spreadsheets.

• Hands‑on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, signal generators, and soldering stations.

• Strong troubleshooting skills and experience debugging electrical systems in lab environments.

• Proficiency with CAD tools for electrical design (e.g., Altium, OrCAD).

• Familiarity with control systems, sensors, and their integration into optical platforms.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.

• Experience with accelerated computing systems

• Familiarity with space qualification standards and environmental testing for aerospace applications (thermal-vacuum, vibration, radiation).

• Experience working with cross-functional engineering teams, particularly with thermal and mechanical disciplines.

• Understanding of satellite electrical systems and power distribution for space applications.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $150,000 – $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.