Senior Electrical Engineer, Radiation Effects & Avionics Reliability

Cowboy Space; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 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 year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance

Daily lunch and stocked kitchen

Job summary

Cowboy Space in Seattle is looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer specialized in Radiation Effects & Reliability. You will play a critical role ensuring our spacecraft electronics withstand the harsh conditions of space, leading radiation test campaigns, and implementing robust reliability strategies.

The ideal candidate will need a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and have a minimum of 4 years in radiation effects or high-reliability electronics. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits, including equity and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in radiation effects or high-reliability electronics.
• Strong understanding of failure mechanisms in harsh environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure spacecraft electronics remain resilient against harsh environments.
• Lead radiation test campaigns for components.
• Develop and implement avionics reliability strategies.

Skills

Radiation effects knowledge

Avionics reliability

Hands-on experience with radiation testing

Reliability engineering methods

Understanding of FPGAs and ASICs

Data analysis skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Job description

Senior Electrical Engineer, Radiation Effects & Reliability

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:

As a Senior Electrical Engineer, Radiation Effects & Reliability, you will ensure our spacecraft electronics remain resilient against the harsh environment of space. You will own radiation assurance and reliability across electrical systems from architecture through on‑orbit operations. In this hands‑on role, you will lead radiation test campaigns, perform reliability analysis, and implement robust mitigation strategies. You’ll be expected to move quickly, translate complex environmental data into actionable design decisions, and take ownership of system‑level resilience that directly impacts mission success.

Responsibilities:

• Own radiation effects and reliability across spacecraft electrical systems—from early architecture through on‑orbit operations
• Define radiation and reliability requirements, translating mission environments into component‑and‑system‑level specifications
• Plan and execute radiation test campaigns (heavy ion, proton, gamma/TID) for components including FPGAs, ASICs, power electronics, and COTS parts
• Characterize and analyze Single Event Effects (SEE), Total Ionizing Dose (TID), and displacement damage; document results and drive design decisions
• Develop and implement avionics reliability strategies, including redundancy, fault detection/isolation/recovery (FDIR), derating, and robustness in degraded modes
• Design and implement mitigation techniques (e.g., ECC, watchdogs, latch‑up protection, shielding) at both component and system levels
• Perform reliability analyses such as FMEA/FMECA, fault tree analysis (FTA), and worst‑case circuit analysis (WCCA)
• Establish and maintain approved parts lists (APL) with a focus on radiation performance, reliability, and supply chain considerations
• Model radiation environments for LEO missions and conduct system‑level risk assessments and margin analyses
• Partner cross‑functionally with avionics, hardware, and software teams to ensure resilient, fault‑tolerant system architectures
• Drive radiation assurance and reliability processes across the full lifecycle—from design and qualification through launch and on‑orbit operations

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
• 4+ years of experience in radiation effects, avionics reliability, or high‑reliability electronics
• Hands‑on experience with radiation testing (SEE, TID) and familiarity with test methodologies and data analysis
• Experience with reliability engineering methods (e.g., FMEA/FMECA, FTA, derating, WCCA)
• Strong understanding of electronic components (FPGAs, ASICs, power systems, mixed‑signal circuits) and failure mechanisms in harsh environments
• Ability to translate test and analysis results into actionable design and system‑level improvements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or related field
• Experience designing, qualifying, or supporting spaceflight hardware (LEO, MEO, GEO, or deep space)
• Deep expertise in Single Event Effects (SEU, SEL, SET) and practical mitigation techniques in digital and power systems
• Familiarity with radiation environment and analysis tools (e.g., SPENVIS, OMERE, NOVICE) and standards (e.g., NASA, MIL‑STD)
• Experience with rad‑hard or rad‑tolerant design, component derating, and system‑level trade studies under mass/power constraints
• Background working in fast‑paced, high‑reliability environments with tight iteration cycles (e.g., aerospace, defense, advanced hardware startups)
• Proven ability to take ownership of ambiguous problems and drive cross‑functional engineering decisions

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.