Fluids Engineer

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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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

You will own the design and development of fluid system hardware for the vehicle’s propulsion, fluids, and/or thermal management architectures. This includes valves, regulators, fluid storage systems (tanks and pressure vessels), fluid routing (tubing, fittings, brackets, and manifolds), and integrated fluid subsystems. You will work across the full lifecycle-from concept and analysis through build, test, and flight-to deliver hardware that meets performance, mass, and reliability requirements in demanding launch and space environments.

Responsibilities

• Design valves (flow control, isolation, regulation, check, and relief) for propellant, pressurant, and thermal fluid systems used on propulsion and launch vehicle systems.
• Develop fluid storage hardware including propellant tanks, pressure vessels, and accumulators from concept through qualification.
• Design fluid routing architecture: tubing runs, manifolds, fittings, flex lines, and quick-disconnects for vehicle integration.
• Own fluid subsystem layout and integration, ensuring compatibility across propulsion, thermal, and pneumatic systems.
• Perform hydraulic and pneumatic analysis (pressure drop, flow distribution, water hammer, thermal transients) to size components and verify system performance.
• Perform structural analysis (FEA, hand calcs) and validate with test and flight data.
• Select materials compatible with propellants, pressures, and operating environments (cryogenic, high-pressure, corrosive).
• Generate detailed component and assembly drawings, specifications, and interface control documents.
• Support and execute component-level and system-level test campaigns (proof, burst, flow, leak, cycle life).
• Work directly with manufacturing and technicians to resolve build issues, improve producibility, and support rapid iteration.
• Support vehicle integration, fill/drain operations, and ground system interfaces.
• Contribute to anomaly investigation, post-flight inspection, and design improvements for reuse and reliability.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical, or related engineering field.
• 3+ years of experience designing fluid system hardware (valves, regulators, tanks, tubing, or fittings) for flight or high-performance applications.
• Experience with fluid system analysis: pressure drop, flow sizing, structural analysis of pressure vessels, or thermal-fluid modeling.
• Hands-on experience taking hardware from design through build and test.
• Proficiency with CAD tools (NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) for detailed part and assembly design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with launch vehicle or spacecraft propulsion fluid systems.
• Familiarity with cryogenic fluid handling, storage, and insulation systems.
• Experience designing or qualifying valves (solenoid, pneumatic, or mechanically actuated).
• Knowledge of material compatibility with common propellants (LOX, methane, hydrazine, NTO) and pressurants (helium, nitrogen).
• Experience with additive manufacturing or advanced fabrication methods for fluid components.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards (AIAA, SAE, MIL-spec, ASME pressure vessel codes).
• Experience supporting propulsion hot-fire testing or vehicle fill/drain operations.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $120,000 - $150,000 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.