Senior Software Engineer

Socket.dev; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, 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 stockedk

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. in San Carlos, CA, is hiring a Software Engineer to build critical systems for a space-based compute platform. You’ll work across the stack—from flight and mission software to ground systems and simulations—contributing to software that must operate in highly constrained, high-reliability environments.

The role offers ownership, growth, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams across hardware and software engineering.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience, including internships or projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• Proficiency in at least one systems-level language (C++, Python, or Rust).
• Exposure to embedded systems, distributed systems, robotics, or aerospace software.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and system design.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test high-reliability, low-latency flight software for space platforms.
• Implement mission software for on-orbit operations including C&D handling, FDIR, and secure comms.
• Work from embedded to higher-level mission logic across the stack.
• Develop ground systems, simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop tests.
• Collaborate with hardware, GNC, and constellation ops to define interfaces.
• Maintain technical docs and participate in CI/CD pipelines for safe deployments.

Skills

C++

Python

Rust

Embedded systems

Education

BSc in CS

Tools

Linux

CI/CD

Git

Job description

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:

We are looking for a Software Engineer to help build critical systems that power our space-based compute platform. You will work across the stack—from flight and missionsoftwareto ground systems and simulation tools—contributing to software that operates in highly constrained, high-reliability environments.

This is a high-growth role with the opportunity to gain ownership quickly and work closely with experienced engineers across hardware and software.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and rigorously test high-reliability, low-latency flight software for our space-based compute platform and satellite subsystems.

• Implement and maintain critical mission software for on-orbit operation, including command and data handling (C&DH), fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR), and secure communications.

• Work across the stack from low-level embedded systems to higher-level mission logic, utilizing systems-level languages (C++, Rust, Python).

• Develop software for ground systems, simulation environments, and hardware-in-the-loop testing to support integration, validation, and on-orbit operations.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), and constellation operations, to define and implement software interfaces and ensure seamless system-level functionality.

• Maintain detailed technical documentation, including software design documents, interface control documents, and comprehensive test plans.

• Participate in code reviews, design reviews, and implement continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to ensure the robustness and safe deployment of flight and ground software.

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering (internships and relevant projects count)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

• Proficiency in at least one systems-level language (C++, Python, or Rust)

• Exposure to one or more of the following:

  • Embedded systems

  • Distributed systems

  • Robotics or autonomous systems

  • Aerospace or hardware-adjacent software

• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and system design basics

• Eagerness to learn and operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven experience working with real-time systems, multithreading, or concurrency in production environments

• Deep familiarity with Linux systems, including debugging, profiling, and performance tuning

• Experience building or operating distributed systems or networked applications (e.g., TCP/IP, sockets, or service communication)

• Experience with simulation environments or software interacting with physical systems (robotics, aerospace, automotive)

• Exposure to control systems, GNC, or autonomy stacks in a practical setting (not just academic)

• Experience working on high-reliability or safety-critical systems with strong testing and validation practices

• Experience designing or maintaining CI/CD pipelines for complex systems (including automated testing, integration with hardware or simulation environments, and safe deployment practices)

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.