The posting
About Cowboy Space Corp:
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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.
The Role
We're looking for a DSP Software Engineer to develop the real-time signal processing algorithms that power our space-based communications and sensing systems. In this role, you'll design, implement, and optimize software that extracts, processes, and analyzes high-speed data streams in resource-constrained environments. You'll collaborate closely with FPGA, RF, avionics, and embedded software engineers to develop algorithms that enable reliable operation in one of the most challenging environments imaginable. This is an opportunity to own mission-critical software that directly impacts spacecraft performance and system capability.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and optimize real-time digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for flight systems.
- Implement high-performance software in C/C++ for embedded and real-time applications.
- Develop algorithms for filtering, modulation, demodulation, synchronization, channel estimation, beamforming, and spectral analysis.
- Optimize signal processing software for latency, throughput, memory utilization, and power efficiency.
- Collaborate with FPGA engineers to partition algorithms between software and programmable logic.
- Work closely with RF, avionics, and systems engineering teams to integrate DSP capabilities into spacecraft hardware.
- Validate algorithms using simulation, laboratory testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments.
- Develop test frameworks and analysis tools using Python or MATLAB.
- Support system integration, debugging, and performance characterization during hardware bring-up and flight testing.
- Participate in architecture reviews, design documentation, and peer code reviews.
- Contribute to continuous integration and automated testing pipelines.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
- 5+ years of professional experience developing DSP software.
- Strong programming skills in C/C++.
- Solid understanding of digital signal processing fundamentals.
- Experience implementing real-time algorithms on embedded processors.
- Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar environments for algorithm development and validation.
- Experience with Linux-based development environments.
- Strong debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience developing DSP software for aerospace, satellite communications, radar, wireless communications, or defense systems.
- Knowledge of modulation schemes, error correction coding, synchronization, equalization, and adaptive filtering.
- Experience with beamforming, phased array systems, or software-defined radio (SDR).
- Experience optimizing software for ARM, x86, or heterogeneous compute platforms.
- Familiarity with CUDA, GPU acceleration, SIMD optimization, or multicore processing.
- Experience collaborating with FPGA development teams on hardware/software co-design.
- Knowledge of communication protocols and RF system architectures.
- Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $167,000 - $214,000 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.
