Lead Harnessing Engineer

Mission

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.

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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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, and is based in San Carlos, CA. 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.

The Role

We are looking for a Lead Harnessing Engineer to own the design, development, and integration of electrical harnessing across our spacecraft platform. This role will define the architecture and execution of wire harnesses and interconnect systems that carry power, signal, and data between every subsystem on orbit.

You will own harness design from schematic and wiring diagram through routing, manufacturing, installation, and test, working under tight constraints around mass, volume, EMI/EMC, thermal, and radiation. You will partner closely with avionics, power, GNC, RF, structures, and integration teams to deliver reliable, flight-ready interconnect systems on aggressive timelines.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role with significant ownership over harness architecture, standards, and execution, and the opportunity to build and mentor a team as the company scales.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end harness architecture across spacecraft platforms, from wiring diagrams and interconnect definition through routing, build, and flight readiness

• Lead the design and development of flight harnesses, connectors, backshells, shielding, grounding, and bonding schemes

• Define harness design standards, workmanship requirements, and documentation practices (IPC/WHMA-A-620, NASA-STD-8739 or equivalent)

• Develop and maintain wire lists, connector pinouts, and interface control documents in close coordination with subsystem leads

• Drive EMI/EMC, grounding, and shielding strategies to ensure signal integrity and system reliability

• Optimize harness designs for mass, volume, routability, and manufacturability within spacecraft constraints

• Guide component and material selection, including space-grade wire, connectors, and protective materials, and manage vendor partnerships

• Establish harness manufacturing, inspection, and acceptance test processes, including continuity, hipot, and insulation resistance testing

• Support harness bring-up, integration, and troubleshooting during spacecraft assembly, integration, and test

• Participate in system-level trade studies to balance performance, cost, mass, and reliability

• Build and mentor a team of harness and interconnect engineers and technicians as the organization grows

• Represent harnessing in design reviews (PDR, CDR) and cross-functional integration discussions

Basic Qualifications

• BS or MS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

• 3+ years of experience in GNC, flight dynamics, or controls systems engineering.

• Strong background in control theory including linear systems analysis, state-space methods, and robust control design.

• Experience modeling and simulating spacecraft dynamics, propulsion systems, and attitude control.

• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent tools for algorithm development and validation.

• Experience developing or implementing flight control algorithms in embedded software environments.

• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, and thruster/engine modeling.

• Ability to conduct Monte Carlo analysis, uncertainty quantification, and robustness trade studies.

• Excellent documentation and communication skills; ability to present technical work to cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Designed, built, and flown (or deployed) harnessing for spacecraft, launch vehicles, aircraft, or other mission-critical systems

• Deep familiarity with aerospace workmanship standards such as IPC/WHMA-A-620 and NASA-STD-8739

• Hands-on experience with EMI/EMC, grounding, and shielding design for high-power and high-speed signal environments

• Experience with space-grade wire and connector families (such as D-sub, Micro-D, circular, and RF connectors) and their qualification

• Experience under aggressive SWaP constraints, making hard tradeoffs between mass, reliability, and routability

• Built and ran harness manufacturing, inspection, and acceptance test processes in a production setting

• Worked closely with avionics, power, GNC, RF, and structures teams to deliver fully integrated flight systems

• Experience building and leading high-performing teams that deliver hardware on tight timelines

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $148,000 - $177,000 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.