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Head of Avionics Verified today

Cowboy Space · San Carlos, CA · Electronics · first seen 2026-09-03
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About Cowboy Space Corp

Cowboy Space Corporation is building infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. The company operates modular, scalable satellites that collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to transmit energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), power on-orbit high-performance computing clusters, and provide secure, high-bandwidth optical data transport. This infrastructure supports the growing space industrial base, in-space servicing, assembly, manufacturing operations, remote regions, and military bases.

The team has worked at SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Astranis, and NASA. Based in San Carlos, CA.

The Role

You will lead the design, development, and integration of avionics systems across the spacecraft platform. You own the architecture and execution of flight computers and critical interfaces that enable control, communication, and power management on orbit.

You will define systems that operate in real-time, safety-critical environments under strict constraints around power, thermal, and radiation. You'll work closely with hardware, integration, and operations teams to deliver reliable, scalable systems.

Responsibilities

  • Define technical vision and roadmap for avionics across spacecraft platforms
  • Own system architecture across avionics, hardware interfaces, and system integration
  • Lead design and development of avionics systems, peripheral interfaces, EMI/EMC, embedded architecture, and rapid integrated testing infrastructure
  • Build and lead a team of avionics engineers; set technical direction and development standards
  • Drive end-to-end development from concept through design, integration, validation, and flight readiness
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with other spacecraft teams to ensure seamless system integration
  • Establish testing, validation, and qualification strategies for avionics systems, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and simulation environments
  • Optimize systems for performance within constraints of power, thermal, and radiation environments
  • Guide component selection, vendor partnerships, and manufacturing processes for avionics hardware
  • Participate in system-level trade studies to balance performance, cost, mass, and power
  • Represent avionics in design reviews (PDR, CDR) and executive-level discussions

Basic Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in avionics engineering
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
  • Experience designing and shipping embedded or avionics systems in production environments
  • Strong background in one or more of the following: real-time operating systems (RTOS), microcontrollers, SoCs, FPGA-based systems, or hardware/software integration
  • Experience leading technical projects or engineering teams with increasing scope and ownership
  • Strong understanding of system architecture and embedded system design principles

Preferred Qualifications

  • Designed, built, and flown (or deployed) avionics or embedded systems for spacecraft or other mission-critical systems
  • Deep understanding of radiation effects (SEE, TID) and have implemented mitigation strategies at the system and component level
  • Designed systems under aggressive SWaP constraints and made hard tradeoffs between performance, reliability, and resource usage
  • Hands-on experience bringing up and debugging hardware and embedded systems using common interfaces (SPI, I2C, CAN, UART, Ethernet, SpaceWire)
  • Built and operated telemetry, command, and data handling (C&DH) systems in production or flight environments
  • Developed and used HITL, simulation, and automated test systems to validate hardware and software
  • Built systems requiring deterministic, real-time performance in safety-critical environments
  • Owned systems end-to-end from architecture through bring-up, integration, test, and deployment
  • Built and led high-performing teams that execute quickly and deliver hardware on tight timelines
  • Worked closely with GNC, RF, power, and other spacecraft teams to deliver fully integrated flight systems

Compensation and Benefits

  • Salary: $200,000 - $250,000 annually
  • Equity in Cowboy Space Corp
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 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 fully stocked kitchen

ITAR Requirements

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.