Cowboy Space is a startup building orbital data-center satellites and an in-house rocket program to launch them.
SENIOR SPACECRAFT ANALYSIS ENGINEER About Cowboy Space Corp. Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of capabilities—from transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), to powering on-orbit compute, to delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data. By rethinking how energy and data are generated and distributed in space, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to operate both in orbit and on Earth. Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space Corp. is backed by leading investors and built by a team from top aerospace and defense organizations. We’re moving quickly to solve complex technical challenges and build a new category of space infrastructure. The Role We are looking for a Spacecraft Systems Analysis Engineer to drive high-impact modeling, simulation, and performance analysis across our satellite platform. This is a multidisciplinary role where you will inform key design decisions across spacecraft subsystems through rigorous analysis and system-level thinking. You will bring deep expertise in one or more domains—such as structural, loads, and dynamics, thermal, radiation, reliability, power, MMOD (micrometeoroid and orbital debris), fluids, or optical/brightness analysis—while operating with a strong understanding of how these systems interact at the spacecraft level. This is a high-growth role with the opportunity to take ownership of critical analyses and directly influence at the spacecraft level. Responsibilities - Perform system-level modeling and simulation to evaluate spacecraft performance across multiple subsystems - Develop and own analysis in one or more domains: structural, thermal, radiation, reliability, power, MMOD, fluids, or optical/brightness - Conduct trade studies and sensitivity analyses to inform design decisions and optimize system performance, mass, and reliability - Collaborate cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, GNC, and software teams to guide design and integration decisions - Define and maintain analysis-driven requirements, margins, and verification strategies - Interpret simulation results and translate findings into actionable engineering insights - Support test planning and model correlation, ensuring alignment between analysis and hardware performance - Develop and maintain technical documentation, including models, assumptions, and analysis reports - Support environmental qualification and on-orbit performance predictions, including thermal, radiation, and debris environments - Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR), providing analytical rigor and recommendations at the system level Basic Qualifications - 3+ years of experience in engineering analysis (internships and relevant projects count) - Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field - Experience or academic exposure to at least one analysis domain: - Structural - Loads and Dynamics - Thermal - Fluids - Radiation - Reliability - Power - MMOD - Demise - Optical / brightness - Familiarity with engineering simulation tools (e.g., FEA, thermal modeling, MATLAB/Python-based analysis) - Strong fundamentals in physics-based modeling, numerical methods, and engineering principles - Ability to interpret data and translate analysis results into actionable engineering insights - Eagerness to learn and operate in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment Preferred Qualifications - Hands-on experience applying analysis to real-world hardware or aerospace systems (internship, academic project, or industry) - Experience with industry-standard tools (e.g., ANSYS, NASTRAN, Thermal Desktop, COMSOL, MATLAB/Simulink, Python) - Experience performing multidisciplinary trade studies and system-level optimization - Familiarity with space environment effects, including radiation, thermal cycling, and orbital debris (MMOD) - Experience with test correlation, validating models against hardware or experimental data - Exposure to power systems, thermal management, or structural dynamics in aerospace applications - Experience working on high-reliability or safety-critical systems with strong validation practices - Experience designing or maintaining analysis workflows integrated with CI/CD or automated pipelines - Demonstrated ownership of complex analytical problems, from assumptions through model validation - Prior experience at a space, aerospace, or deep tech organization - Strong interest in space systems, energy infrastructure, and mission-driven engineering challenges Compensation and Benefits The salary range for this position is $115,000 - $145,000 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 leave for new parents - Relocation assistance - Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks 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. 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