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Salary: USD 216,000 - 236,000 / annual
Cowboy Space Corporation is building space-based solar energy infrastructure to solve the global energy crisis. The company develops modular, scalable satellites that collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to transmit energy via infrared lasers, power on-orbit high-performance computing clusters, and provide secure optical data transport. Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space has raised approximately $365 million from top-tier investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Astranis, and NASA.
As Stage 1 Lead Engineer, you will be the Responsible Engineer for the reusable first stage of Cowboy Space's launch vehicle, owning its complete lifecycle from architecture and design through assembly, integrated test, launch, recovery, and refurbishment. You will serve as chief engineer, program manager, and lead systems engineer, directing an integrated product team spanning propulsion, structures, mechanical, fluids, avionics, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), software, and test disciplines.
Key responsibilities include: defining Stage 1 architecture and stage-level requirements in coordination with engine, upper stage, and ground systems owners; managing subsystem requirements and interfaces; tracking technical performance, mass, margins, and risk; managing schedule and budget; leading assembly, integration, and integrated test campaigns (cryogenic proof, static fire); defining verification and qualification plans; developing operating procedures and operational limits; making real-time engineering decisions during test and launch operations; driving design-for-reuse decisions (recovery loads, inspection intervals, life-limited parts, refurbishment procedures); and owning the stage upgrade plan for improved reliability and production rate.
This role reports to the Head of Launch & Propulsion and demands exceptional technical depth, leadership across disciplines, and the ability to move fast in a high-stakes aerospace environment.
REQUIREMENTS:
Basic Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in design, build, integration, or test of launch vehicles, rocket stages, or similarly complex aerospace flight systems
- Demonstrated experience on one or more development programs through a significant portion of the lifecycle (concept through development, qualification, flight, or sustained operations)
- Demonstrated ability to lead and integrate a team of technical contributors spanning propulsion, structures, mechanical, fluids, avionics, GNC, and software disciplines
- Strong knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals (requirements, interfaces, verification, risk and margin management) applied practically in fast-paced development
- Exceptional command of fundamentals: structures and loads, fluid systems, thermodynamics, cryogenics, flight dynamics, and control systems
- Experience with integrated stage- or vehicle-level testing (pressure/proof testing, cryogenic loading, static fire, or equivalent)
- Strong data analysis and data reduction skills (test and flight data to vehicle health and performance)
- Hands-on experience with fabrication, assembly, and integration of flight hardware
- Ability to lead and follow; demonstrated history of excellent written and verbal communication and team-building
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or equivalent
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience as responsible engineer, chief engineer, or technical lead for a launch vehicle stage or other major flight system
- Experience with reusable launch vehicles: recovery, inspection, refurbishment, and recertification of flown hardware
- Experience with LNG/methane or other cryogenic propellant systems, including tanks, feed and pressurization systems, and ground support equipment
- Familiarity with launch operations, range safety, and flight termination systems
- Experience with vehicle-level analyses: trajectory and performance, mass properties, loads, and GNC for powered descent and landing
- Experience with CAD tools and configuration management (Siemens NX/Teamcenter or equivalent)
ITAR Requirement: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
