Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Satellite Mechanisms

About Cowboy Space Corp:

Cowboy Space Corporation is solving the global energy crisis by building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. We are tackling one of humanity's most complex engineering challenges with a world-class team dedicated to delivering a revolutionary power platform. Cowboy Space Corporation is transforming how civilization powers, computes and connects - from orbit to Earth.

Mission

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our modular, scalable satellites collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to enable multiple integrated applications: transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit high-performance computing clusters (GPU/TPU), and providing secure, high bandwidth optical data transport.

Background

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our modular, scalable satellites collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit to enable multiple integrated applications: transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit high-performance computing clusters (GPU/TPU), and providing secure, high bandwidth optical data transport.

Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure. Cowboy Space Corporation overcomes these challenges by enabling direct, on-demand, secure, and scalable energy distribution and data processing from space. This will revolutionize how we operate in orbit and on Earth, supporting the rapidly expanding space industrial base, ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing) operations, remote regions, and military bases.

Baiju Bhatt founded Cowboy Space Corporation in 2024. Inspired by his father's work with NASA Langley Research Center, Baiju earned his B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics at Stanford before co-founding Robinhood, now a public company that has helped over 20 million Americans access the financial system. Cowboy Space Corporation has raised ~$365 million from Index Ventures, Interlagos, Construct Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others.

This is an ambitious mission that demands extraordinary talent. Cowboy Space Corporation's team has worked at places like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke Space, Astranis and NASA. If you're ready to solve complex technical challenges and help build the most important energy company in the world, we want to hear from you.

About the Role:

As a Mechanisms Engineer, you will own a critical spacecraft mechanism subsystem from concept through flight. Depending on your background and team priorities, your assignment will be hold-down and release mechanisms (HDRMs), solar array deployment and drive systems, deployable structures (antennas, booms, radiators), or thermal/radiator articulation mechanisms. This is a hands‑on role at the center of spacecraft hardware development. You will work closely with structures, thermal, power, avionics, and mission operations to design integrated systems, build hardware, and validate through test. You'll be expected to move quickly, iterate often, and take full ownership of mechanisms that directly impact mission success.

Responsibilities:

• Own your mechanism subsystem from concept through design, analysis, test, and flight.

• Drive structural and kinematic design for minimum mass while meeting strength, stiffness, fatigue, and operational‑life requirements across launch, on‑orbit deployment, and mission‑life environments.

• Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in every design decision.

• Perform analysis — hand calculations, FEA, tolerance stack-ups, deployment dynamics — and validate predictions with test and on‑orbit data.

• Define and execute qualification and acceptance test campaigns, including vibration, thermal vacuum, deployment, and life testing; author procedures, acceptance criteria, and anomaly dispositions.

• Develop and maintain engineering drawings, models, and release documentation.

• Work directly on the factory floor with manufacturing and integration & test teams to iterate quickly and resolve build issues in real time.

• Troubleshoot hardware anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements.

• Support spacecraft integration & test, launch site operations, and on‑orbit commissioning/anomaly response.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.

• 5+ years of experience designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or high‑performance hardware.

• Experience taking hardware from concept through build, integration, and test.

• Strong fundamentals in structural mechanics, kinematics, materials, and manufacturing processes.

• Proficiency with CAD (NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or Creo) and creating engineering drawings to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.

• Proficiency with FEA tools (ANSYS, Nastran, or Abaqus) for mechanism load‑path and dynamic problems.

• 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:

• 10+ years of experience designing mechanisms or mechanical systems for spacecraft or high‑performance flight hardware.

• Direct experience with hold‑down and release mechanisms (HDRMs), solar array deployment systems, or other spacecraft deployables.

• Experience with pyrotechnic, non‑explosive actuator (NEA), or other low‑shock release devices.

• Hands‑on prototyping and machining experience.

• Familiarity with spacecraft thermal environments and their effect on mechanism performance.

• Experience at a fast‑moving, hardware‑focused startup or early‑stage spacecraft program.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $150,000 – $180,000 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 parental leave

• Relocation assistance if applicable

• Daily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

ITAR Requirements

• 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 obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

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.

Cowboy Space Corp. is an equal employment opportunity employer. We consider individuals for employment or promotion according to their skills, abilities and experience. Cowboy Space Corp. is committed to complying with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, physical, mental or developmental disability, sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), veteran status, military status, marital or registered domestic partnership status, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.