Senior GNC Engineer

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 is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to support the development of advanced aerospace systems in Seattle, WA. This role involves innovative guidance and navigation systems for orbital launch vehicles and requires strong analytical skills paired with hands-on engineering experience. The position offers a salary range of $150,000 to $200,000, plus equity, benefits including medical and 401(k), and a collaborative working environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with control systems, orbital mechanics, classical dynamics, modeling, and simulation.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative guidance, navigation, and control systems for a new orbital class launch vehicle.
• Implement new software or algorithms to enable mission unique capabilities.
• Develop 6-DOF dynamics simulation models used for GNC systems analysis and validation.
• Support launch and mission operations of vehicles that you enabled.
• Perform testing of GNC software utilizing hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Skills

Control systems

Orbital mechanics

Classical dynamics

Modeling

Simulation

Python

C++

Education

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field

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

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior GNC Engineer to support the development, analysis, and validation of advanced aerospace systems. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with hands‑on simulation and systems engineering experience to support mission design, flight dynamics, and autonomous control system development. This position is located onsite in Seattle WA.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative guidance, navigation, and control systems for a new orbital class launch vehicle
• Engage in multi-disciplinary vehicle systems investigations and design work that define the systems architecture
• Implement new software or algorithms to enable mission unique capabilities and leading edge launch vehicle performance
• Develop 6‑DOF dynamics simulation models used for GNC systems analysis and validation
• Analyze launch vehicle trajectories, performance dispersions, and flight stability
• Support launch and mission operations of vehicles that you enabled
• Perform testing of GNC software utilizing hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing, Monte Carlo analysis, and algorithm unit testing

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Aerospace, Mechanical, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field.
• Experience with control systems, orbital mechanics, classical dynamics, modeling, and simulation
• Experience with the software languages Python or C++

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, hypersonics, UAVs, or defense systems.
• Experience supporting flight testing or mission operations.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

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.

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.