Spacecraft Software Test & Automation Engineer

Cowboy Space Corp.; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 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

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Software Engineer, Test & Automation to build and own software, tooling, and infrastructure for verifying spacecraft systems throughout the development lifecycle.

You will design reusable frameworks and automation that support multiple programs, enabling reliable tests across SIL, HITL, and field environments. The role emphasizes hands-on interaction with spacecraft hardware and lab equipment, while integrating tests into CI workflows and ensuring repeatable,

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in test automation, embedded software, hardware/software integration, validation infrastructure, or related discipline.
• Strong software development in Python, C/C++, or Rust.
• Experience designing maintainable software tools, libraries, services, or frameworks used by other engineers.
• Hands-on experience testing software against physical hardware and integrating with lab/test equipment.
• Experience with SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, and Ethernet.
• Ability to debug complex issues across software, hardware, instrumentation, and test-environment boundaries.
• Demonstrated focus on reusability, reliability, observability, and maintainability of test solutions.
• Willingness to support hands-on testing in lab, test-facility, and field environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain reusable software frameworks for automated spacecraft testing across SIL, HITL, environmental, radiation, integration, and field-test environments.
• Own the software and automation for HITL infrastructure that exercises real flight software against flight, engineering, or emulated spacecraft hardware.
• Build SIL environments that support rapid development, regression testing, fault injection, and validation without requiring physical hardware.
• Automate environmental and qualification testing, including thermal-vacuum, vibration, shock, EMC, and other test campaigns.
• Build scheduling, resource management, and reporting systems that enable shared test infrastructure across programs.
• Integrate automated tests into continuous integration workflows and provide clear results to engineering teams.
• Stand up, configure, and maintain test racks and lab equipment, including power, data, and safety interfaces.
• Develop software interfaces for controlling and collecting data from power supplies, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and data-acquisition systems.
• Collaborate with engineering to define test coverage, prioritize gaps, and validate hardware and software releases before integration and flight.
• Investigate failures, distinguish test-infrastructure issues, and drive root-cause analysis to closure.
• Manage configuration, calibration, versioning, data provenance, and traceability to ensure reproducible results.
• Document the test platform, develop operating procedures, and champion adoption across the company.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Rust

Test automation

Embedded software

SPI

I2C

UART

CAN

Ethernet

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field

Job description

Cowboy Space Corp. is seeking a Software Engineer, Test & Automation to build and own software, tooling, and infrastructure for verifying spacecraft systems throughout the development lifecycle.

You will design reusable frameworks and automation that support multiple programs, enabling reliable tests across SIL, HITL, and field environments. The role emphasizes hands-on interaction with spacecraft hardware and lab equipment, while integrating tests into CI workflows and ensuring repeatable,