Head of Avionics

About Cowboy Space Corp

• 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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.

About the role

We are looking for a Head of Avionics to lead the design, development, and integration of avionics systems across our spacecraft platform. This role will own the architecture and execution of avionics systems, including 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, working closely with hardware, integration, and operation teams to deliver reliable and scalable systems.

This is a critical leadership role with significant ownership over system architecture, team building, and execution.

Responsibilities

Define the technical vision and roadmap for avionics across spacecraft platforms

Own system architecture across avionics, hardware interfaces, and system integration

Lead the 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, setting technical direction and development standards

Ensure robust communication across subsystems and subsystem leads

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

Ensure robust communication across subsystems and subsystem leads

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, or FPGA-based systems

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

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 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, gende