Head of Avionics

Department: Avionics

Location: San Carlos, California

Employment Type: FullTime

About Cowboy Space Corp

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

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

• Ensure robust communication across subsystems and subsystem leads

• 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. 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.