The posting
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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.
About the Role
We're looking for a Senior Facilities & Infrastructure Engineer to develop, commission, and improve the infrastructure supporting Cowboy Space's approximately 290,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Kent, Washington. You'll translate manufacturing and equipment needs into facility requirements, lead technical projects through construction and commissioning, and solve utility and building-system problems as the site moves into production.
You'll own the technical execution of facility systems and infrastructure projects, from requirements and design review through field coordination, commissioning, and operational support. You'll work with manufacturing engineering, production, on-site test teams, EHS, and IT/security, and coordinate qualified civil, structural, geotechnical, and mechanical/electrical engineers for specialist design and required professional approvals. You'll develop the technical standards, system documentation, and maintenance practices needed for reliable operations and future growth.
This is a full-time, on-site position in Kent, Washington, requiring work on-site five days per week.
Responsibilities
- Lead facilities engineering projects for the Kent buildout and transition to operations with the landlord, project management firm, architects, engineers, utilities, and contractors. Own technical scope, schedule, field coordination, commissioning, and handover for assigned projects.
- Translate manufacturing plans and equipment requirements into utility demand, capacity, layout, and infrastructure plans. Identify constraints early and sequence upgrades, installations, and outages around production needs.
- Own the technical delivery of assigned civil and structural modifications at Kent, including heavy-equipment foundations, geotechnical investigations, drainage, and site utilities as needed. Define requirements, review consultant deliverables, and coordinate licensed engineers responsible for specialist design.
- Coordinate facility permitting and inspections with authorities having jurisdiction, fire departments, utility providers, and applicable environmental regulators. Prepare and review technical inputs for building, fire/life-safety, stormwater, wastewater, and other site approvals with EHS and qualified consultants.
- Coordinate installation and acceptance of CNC machines, additive manufacturing systems, cranes, onsite test equipment, and storage tanks, including foundations, anchors, rigging, utility connections, safety interfaces, and commissioning.
- Develop project scopes and bid packages, evaluate technical proposals, and recommend engineering and construction partners. Coordinate their work, assess field changes, and verify workmanship, punch-list completion, as-built records, and closeout.
- Take technical ownership of facility systems, including electrical distribution, HVAC, chilled water and process cooling, compressed air, industrial gases, plumbing, fire protection, exhaust, and dust/fume collection. Plan and coordinate engineering, commissioning, repair, and improvement work.
- Establish monitoring, alarms, and building-automation practices that make utility capacity, system condition, and performance visible. Use operating data to improve reliability, maintainability, resource efficiency, and readiness for production growth.
- Lead troubleshooting and recovery from facility and utility failures. Coordinate safe isolation, emergency response, root-cause investigations, and corrective actions with manufacturing, EHS, and specialist contractors.
- Develop and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs using a CMMS, including an asset inventory, recommended work priorities, maintenance schedules, critical spares, and service requirements. Coordinate planned shutdowns with operations and maintenance personnel, and track recurring failures and maintenance effectiveness.
- Maintain site engineering records, including civil and MEP drawings, P&IDs, electrical one-line diagrams, utility maps, equipment specifications, operating and maintenance procedures, and commissioning records.
- Develop technical scopes, cost estimates, and schedules for capital projects and facility improvements. Support capital and operating planning, track project costs against approved budgets, and communicate scope changes, schedule, cost, capacity, and operating risks to manufacturing leadership.
- Develop facilities engineering standards, maintenance requirements, and technical work scopes. Share technical knowledge and coordinate with maintenance personnel and specialist contractors to resolve system issues and improve reliability.
- Define technical requirements for facilities service agreements and coordinate vendor work for maintenance, utilities, security, access control, and specialty services. Verify technical performance and resolve deficiencies with the responsible stakeholders. Partner with IT/security and EHS on site access and controlled-area requirements.
- Execute facilities engineering work in accordance with applicable OSHA requirements, building and fire codes, environmental permits, hazardous-material controls, and lockout/tagout practices. Partner with EHS and qualified specialists on inspections, technical records, and corrective actions.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, civil, facilities engineering, construction management, or a closely related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of experience in facilities or plant engineering, industrial infrastructure, or capital-project delivery, including at least 5 years supporting a manufacturing or heavy-industrial site.
- Demonstrated delivery of a major industrial buildout, expansion, or infrastructure program through design, construction, equipment installation, commissioning, and operational handover, with experience supporting an operating facility.
- Strong engineering fundamentals and practical knowledge of industrial utilities, including electrical distribution, HVAC/process cooling, compressed air and gases, piping, and system controls, with technical depth in one or more disciplines.
- Experience diagnosing and resolving complex facility, equipment-support, or utility failures in an operating environment and making sound technical decisions under schedule pressure.
- Experience coordinating civil or structural work for heavy-equipment foundations or industrial facility modifications, including applicable permitting, inspections, and consultant interfaces.
- Ability to read and critically review civil, structural, and MEP drawings, P&IDs, electrical one-line diagrams, equipment specifications, and construction documents; prepare technical scopes, requirements, and drawing markups.
- Experience delivering multidisciplinary technical projects, tracking project budgets and schedules, evaluating vendor proposals, and coordinating contractors, vendors, and cross-functional engineering teams.
- Working knowledge of OSHA, NFPA, the International Building Code, applicable ASME standards, lockout/tagout, and industrial safety practices.
- Clear communication with technical teams, operators, contractors, and leadership; ability to prioritize competing construction and operational needs and execute with limited supervision.
- Ability to work onsite in Kent, Washington, five days per week and meet the export-control requirements below.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional Engineer (PE) license in Washington or another state, with eligibility for Washington licensure as applicable.
- Experience bringing a manufacturing plant online or scaling facilities in aerospace, defense, energy, automotive, or another demanding industrial environment.
- Depth in heavy-equipment foundations, geotechnical coordination, industrial site modifications, or complex permitting.
- Experience with high-pressure gas distribution, cryogenic systems, hazardous-material infrastructure, or specialized utility needs for additive manufacturing and machining.
- Experience with building automation, facility monitoring, data acquisition, and industrial-controls integration.
- Experience implementing a CMMS and applying reliability engineering or maintenance planning to improve system availability.
- Working proficiency with CAD or model-review tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or Siemens NX for layout coordination, technical review, or as-built updates.
- Experience in export-controlled or AS9100/IATF 16949 manufacturing environments; CFM/FMP certification or an advanced degree in a related field.
Compensation and Benefits
- The salary range for this position is $149,000 to $191,000 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 https://deccs.pmddtc.state.gov/deccs.
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.
