Jobs at Cowboy Space Corporation

Hands-on launch engineering internship focused on powerpack, mechanisms, fluids, or thrust-chamber systems. Interns own a component, analysis, or test from definition through completion; create CAD models and GD&T drawings; perform calculations and FEA; support hardware fabrication and testing; analyze test data; troubleshoot issues; and present results. Work involves close collaboration with engineers, machinists, and technicians in a hardware development environment.

Own end-to-end purchase order lifecycle and supplier management for complex engineered hardware. Negotiate vendors, mitigate risk, manage procurement workflows and compliance, and drive cost-savings. Build data-driven sourcing tools and dashboards (SQL/Python/BI), automate processes, and partner cross-functionally with engineering, finance, and operations to support hardware development and production timelines.

Owns spacecraft ordnance and energetic systems from architecture and hardware selection through qualification, flight operations, and ground safety. Responsibilities include designing initiation chains, analyzing firing margins and susceptibility, qualifying pyro devices, managing hazard classification and explosive site planning, and ensuring ATF, DOT, DoD, and ITAR compliance. The role also establishes storage, handling, shipping, licensing, and operating procedures for a new ordnance discipline, including reusable-vehicle safing and requalification.

Owns the reliability engineering function for spacecraft vehicles and engines, including FMEA/FMECA, fault trees, single-point-failure identification, common-cause analysis, redundancy trades, and physics-of-failure assessments. Defines reliability processes, test objectives, instrumentation plans, and anomaly corrective actions. Uses Python and lightweight version-controlled tooling for analysis, teaches engineers reliability practices, and supports propulsion, structures, and avionics teams.

Designs and owns spacecraft mechanical hardware from concept through production and flight. Responsibilities include developing structures, mechanisms, thermal systems, drawings, and engineering documentation; performing FEA, thermal, and tolerance analyses; prototyping and testing; supporting integration and launch readiness; troubleshooting hardware; and collaborating with suppliers, manufacturers, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Leads an embedded software team developing flight-critical, real-time software for satellite control, power beaming, communications, and ground receiver systems. Responsibilities include team mentorship, firmware release planning, fault-tolerant architecture, embedded development, hardware integration, and SITL/HITL validation. The role establishes engineering standards, conducts architecture and code reviews, and ensures reliable software across spacecraft avionics and laser power transmission systems.

Lead propulsion analysis for rocket engines and vehicles using FEA, CFD, thermal, static, dynamic, and fatigue simulations. Develop and enforce modeling standards, collaborate with design, hardware, and test teams, validate models against physical results, drive design improvements, and produce clear technical documentation. The role is onsite in Seattle and requires strong multiphysics simulation, numerical analysis, and thermal/fluid network expertise.

Design, develop, and integrate spacecraft subsystems (structures, power, thermal, avionics). Lead system-level trade studies, CAD/FEA modeling, integration and environmental testing, prepare technical documentation and ICDs, and support PDR/CDR and cross-functional teams through integration and test campaigns.

Own manufacturing and assembly of turbopump hardware from design for manufacturability through production. Define build processes, work instructions, inspection plans, tooling, fixtures, cleanliness controls, and acceptance criteria. Lead floor assembly, dimensional verification, rotor balancing, nonconformance disposition, rework, repair, and root-cause improvements. Improve cycle time, yield, and production readiness while supporting suppliers with process capability, first articles, equipment qualification, and new process development.

Work across spacecraft engineering disciplines—design, build, integrate, test, and operate satellite systems (avionics, power, thermal, structures, GNC, payloads, flight software and ground systems). Hands-on, mission-critical hardware responsibility in a fast-moving startup environment.

Lead design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing of vehicle primary structures and mechanisms including airframe, tanks, landing systems, aerodynamic surfaces, and stage separation. Optimize for minimum mass and high reliability across ascent, entry, landing, and reuse. Direct structural analysis (FEA, hand calcs), test campaigns, manufacturing iteration, anomaly investigations, and team leadership.

Lead design, development, and testing of payload flight software in Rust for attitude/pointing, command handling, telemetry, and data storage. Define architecture and coding conventions, implement FDIR, build automated test infrastructure (simulation/HIL), integrate with GNC/avionics/electrical teams, support integration, launch, and on-orbit ops, investigate anomalies, and mentor other engineers to achieve a near-term on-orbit demonstration.

Design, analyze, develop, and validate rocket engine injectors from concept through hotfire and flight. Lead physics-based sizing, manufacturing selection, test campaign planning and execution, hotfire data analysis, and iterative redesign while partnering with vehicle and test-stand engineers.

Lead end-to-end mechanical design and manufacturing for TCA rocket engine components. Drive DFM-focused design, tooling and fixture creation, implement advanced fabrication (additive, CNC, EDM, specialized joining), develop process parameters, and plan/execute hotfire test campaigns with analysis and rapid redesign for flight qualification.

Design and implement motor control and embedded real-time firmware for fluid system valves, pumps, and actuators. Develop closed-loop controllers, automated fill/drain/vent sequences, FDIR logic, HIL testing, and system-level validation. Integrate sensors, actuators, and control electronics; support propulsion hot-fire tests, ground ops, anomaly investigation, and cross-team integration with avionics and software.

Design, analyze, fabricate, test, and qualify flight mechanisms (separation systems, landing gear, actuators). Own subsystem from concept through flight, perform structural/kinematic analysis and FEA, author test campaigns and drawings, troubleshoot hardware, work with manufacturing and cross-functional teams, support launch operations and refurbishment.

Build and lead the Launch & Propulsion analysis organization: define analysis philosophy and margin policy; oversee structural, thermal, and CFD analyses; develop toolchain and automated workflows; correlate models with test/flight data; hire and grow the team; set documentation and V&V standards; coordinate with design, test, manufacturing, and assurance; and present substantiation at program milestones.

Lead and build the propulsion test organization: design and commission test stands, define test philosophy, own DAQ and control architecture, hire and develop test teams, run high-cadence hot-fire and stage tests, drive post-test analysis and anomaly resolution, and manage budgets, vendors, safety, and cross-disciplinary coordination to support vehicle development and flight readiness.

Lead design, analysis, testing, and manufacturing integration for the vehicle primary structures (airframe, tanks, thrust structure, interstages). Optimize for minimum mass, strength, stiffness, fatigue, thermal resilience, and rapid reuse. Drive FEA and hand calculations, execute structural test campaigns, close failure modes through rapid design-test-learn cycles, and support flight operations and refurbishment.

Design, build, test, and operate launch vehicle systems and flight hardware across disciplines including structures, avionics, propulsion, fluids/thermal, integration, manufacturing, and ground/launch operations. Work spans design, integration, test, and operations in a fast-paced, hands-on environment with ownership over mission-critical aerospace hardware.