Senior Mechanical Engineer

About the Company

Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of capabilities—from powering on-orbit compute, to transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit compute to delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design of spacecraft components and assemblies from concept through production
• Design and develop structures, mechanisms, and thermal solutions for space environments
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation, drawings, and release processes
• Perform analysis including FEA, thermal, and tolerance stack-ups to validate designs
• Drive rapid prototyping, build, and test cycles to accelerate hardware development
• Collaborate cross-functionally with propulsion, power, avionics, GNC, and software engineering teams
• Support integration, environmental testing, and launch readiness activities
• Troubleshoot hardware issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement design improvements
• Work with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure high-quality, scalable production
• Balance performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule in design decisions

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 5+ years of experience designing mechanical systems for aerospace or high-performance hardware
• Experience taking hardware from concept through build and test
• Strong fundamentals in mechanics, materials, and thermal systems
• Proficiency with CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, or similar)
• Experience working in fast-paced, hardware-focused development environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing for space environments (thermal, vibration, vacuum)
• Background in spacecraft structures, mechanisms, or thermal systems
• Experience with FEA and/or thermal analysis tools
• Hands-on experience with prototyping, machining, or test setups
• Experience working at a high-growth or early-stage hardware company
• Familiarity with integration, environmental testing, or launch operations

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off and 10 paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Daily lunch and fully stocked kitchen