Fluids Engineer Level 1 Verified today

About Cowboy Space Corp

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy through space-based solar energy. The company is developing 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 (formerly co-founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space has raised approximately $365 million and is based in San Carlos, California.

About the Role

As a Fluids Engineer Level 1, you will own a critical fluid system from concept through flight. Depending on your background and team priorities, your assignment will focus on one of: Propulsion fluid design (main propulsion valves, throttling valves, engine fluid routing and manifolding); Vehicle propulsion feed systems (prevalves, propellant feedlines); Vehicle tank pressure controls (vent valves, repress systems); or Vehicle pneumatic systems (inert gas valves, regulators, fluid routing, and storage for actuation and control). This is a hands-on role at the center of propulsion and vehicle hardware development. You will work closely with propulsion, structures, thermal, avionics, manufacturing, and test operations to design integrated systems, build hardware, and validate through test.

Responsibilities

• Own your fluid subsystem from concept through design, analysis, test, and flight.
• Drive fluid component and system designs for minimum mass while meeting pressure drop, proof, burst, leakage, cycle-life, and operating-life requirements across ground, ascent, and on-orbit environments.
• Design valves, fluid routing architectures, and fluid storage hardware for propellant, pneumatic, and thermal fluid service on rocket engines and vehicle fluid systems.
• Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision.
• Perform analysis including hand calculations, FEA, and tolerance stack-ups, then validate predictions with test and flight data.
• Own fluid subsystem layout and integration, ensuring compatibility across propulsion, thermal, and pneumatic systems.
• Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns (proof, burst, leak, flow, cycle life, vibration); author procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions.
• Develop and maintain engineering drawings, models, specifications, interface control documents, and release documentation.
• Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing and technicians to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time.
• Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements.
• Support engine and vehicle integration, hot-fire and fill/drain operations, ground system interfaces, post-test inspection, and refurbishment planning.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 1+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware (valves, regulators, tanks and pressure vessels, tubing, fittings, or manifolds) for flight vehicles or high-performance hardware. Internships, co-ops, and competition or research team experience count.
• Experience taking hardware from concept through build, integration, and test.
• Strong fundamentals in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, structural mechanics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience with fluid system analysis: pressure drop and flow sizing, structural analysis of pressure vessels, or thermal-fluid modeling.
• Proficiency with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo) and creating engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware for flight vehicles or high-performance hardware.
• Direct experience with rocket engine, launch vehicle, or spacecraft propulsion fluid systems.
• Experience designing or qualifying valves (solenoid, pneumatic, hydraulic, or mechanically actuated) and pressure regulators.
• Familiarity with cryogenic fluid handling, storage, and insulation systems.
• Knowledge of material and seal compatibility with common propellants (LOX, methane, RP-1, etc) and pneumatics (helium, nitrogen), including oxygen-compatible design practice.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards (AIAA S-080/S-081, ASME BPVC, SAE, and MIL-spec fluid fitting and pressure vessel standards).
• Hands-on prototyping, machining, brazing, or welding experience.
• Experience supporting propulsion hot-fire testing or vehicle fill/drain operations.
• Experience at a fast-moving, hardware-focused startup or early-stage program.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $135,000 annually, based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

ITAR and Export Control

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 obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.