Stage 1 Lead Engineer at Cowboy Space Corp. in Washington, DC

Job description

About Cowboy Space 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 Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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: As the Stage 1 Lead, you will be the Responsible Engineer for the reusable first stage of Cowboy Space's launch vehicle, owning its entire lifecycle: from architecture and design through assembly, integrated test, launch, recovery, and refurbishment. You will serve as chief engineer, program manager, and lead systems engineer for the stage. You will lead an integrated product team of propulsion, structures, mechanical, fluids, avionics, GNC, software, and test engineers to deliver a flight-proven, rapidly reusable first stage. You will work closely with the engine, upper stage, manufacturing, test, and launch operations teams as the stage integrates with the rest of the launch system. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly. This role reports to the Head of Launch & Propulsion. What You’ll Do ● Own the Stage 1 program from architecture and design through flight, recovery, and reflight ● Define Stage 1 architecture, conceptual design, and stage-level requirements in coordination with the owners of the engine, upper stage, ground systems, and other launch system elements ● Define and manage subsystem requirements and interfaces (propulsion, structures, fluids, avionics, GNC, and recovery) with subsystem owners, including the engine-to-stage interface ● Track stage technical performance, mass, margins, and risk throughout the design cycle; manage changes to requirements and interfaces and mediate technical disagreements between subsystems ● Define and manage schedule and budget for the Stage 1 program ● Lead stage assembly, integration, and integrated test campaigns (cryogenic proof, static fire) with support from manufacturing and test engineers ● Define the verification and qualification plan for stage and subsystem requirements and manage its execution ● Develo