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Cowboy Space Corp., founded in 2024 by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is building orbital infrastructure to power and connect the space economy. The company operates satellites in Low Earth Orbit that collect sunlight and enable capabilities including on-orbit compute power, space-to-earth and space-to-space energy transmission via infrared lasers, and secure high-bandwidth optical data delivery.
The Payload Mechanical team seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to serve as the responsible engineer for mechanical design of laser communications payloads. This role spans the full lifecycle from early architecture and trade studies through hands-on integration and environmental qualification. You will own opto-mechanical packaging, pointing and tracking mechanisms, thermal management, and structural qualification. The position requires leading a team of mechanical engineers while collaborating closely with optical, laser, thermal, and systems engineers to deliver flight-ready laser communication systems.
Key responsibilities include owning the mechanical architecture of laser comm payloads from concept through production; leading and mentoring mechanical engineers while setting technical direction and execution pace; defining interfaces and technical budgets across the payload; driving structural and thermal analysis efforts; developing mechanical drawings, GD&T specifications, and interface control documents; defining and executing mechanical integration and test plans including environmental qualification (vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum); performing system-level trade studies on packaging, mass, and structural performance; representing the mechanical team in design reviews; and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure compatibility at all mechanical interfaces.
Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience for flight hardware in aerospace or defense programs; demonstrated experience as technical lead on complex electro-mechanical or opto-mechanical flight hardware; proficiency in 3D CAD (NX, Solidworks, or equivalent) and GD&T; experience with structural analysis and thermal modeling tools; experience taking flight hardware through environmental qualification; strong understanding of materials, standards, and manufacturing processes for high-reliability systems; and experience managing direct reports or leading technical teams.
Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; 8+ years developing space or defense flight hardware; opto-mechanical design experience; experience designing mechanisms for space flight; familiarity with laser communications systems; experience with deployable or articulating structures; hands-on flight hardware integration and alignment experience; and prior technical lead or engineering manager experience on flight programs.
