Senior GNC Engineer

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. By rethinking how energy and data are generated and distributed in space, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to operate both in orbit and on Earth.

Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space Corp. is backed by leading investors and built by a team from top aerospace and defense organizations. We’re moving quickly to solve complex technical challenges and build a new category of space infrastructure.

About the Role:

As a Senior GNC Engineer at Cowboy Space, you will design and implement the algorithms that control how our spacecraft orient, navigate, and maneuver in orbit. Your work will directly impact pointing accuracy, orbital control, and overall mission performance.

This is a high-ownership role spanning modeling, simulation, flight software integration, and real-world testing. You’ll work closely with propulsion, hardware, and software teams to ensure GNC systems perform reliably from simulation to on-orbit operations.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop guidance, navigation, and control algorithms for spacecraft attitude and orbit control

• Build high-fidelity simulations to model spacecraft dynamics, sensors, and actuators

• Develop state estimation algorithms (e.g., Kalman filters) for navigation and attitude determination

• Design control laws for pointing, stabilization, and orbital maneuvers

• Collaborate with propulsion and hardware teams to integrate actuators and sensors into control systems

• Work with software engineers to implement GNC algorithms into flight software

• Validate system performance through simulation, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and real-world data

• Support integration, launch preparation, and on-orbit operations

• Analyze flight data, troubleshoot anomalies, and improve system performance over time

• Contribute to system architecture decisions across vehicle and mission design

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• 5+ years of experience in GNC, controls, or related fields

• Strong fundamentals in dynamics, control theory, and estimation

• Experience with simulation tools (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar)

• Experience implementing or testing control systems in real-world or simulated environments

• Ability to work in fast-paced, multidisciplinary engineering teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

• Experience with spacecraft GNC systems or orbital mechanics

• Familiarity with sensors such as star trackers, IMUs, and GPS

• Experience with propulsion-integrated control systems

• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and validation

• Background in high-reliability or mission-critical systems

• Experience contributing to flight software or embedded systems

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $150,000 – $200,000 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, gender expression, sexual orientation, as well as any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.