Head of Avionics

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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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