Ground Station Software Engineer

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 Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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 Ground Station Software Engineer to own the software that forms the communications backbone between earth and space. You'll be responsible for the software - written in Python and Go - which will deliver secure highly reliable communications. Responsibilities Design and develop distributed software systems for ground station network operations and core infrastructure services.Test and integrate software systems that run on both commercial and in-house developed hardware.Build simulation and testing frameworks to validate system behavior before deploymentCollaborate with hardware engineers to integrate, test, and debug systems end-to-endWrite performant, reliable code for resource-constrained and mission-critical environmentsDevelop internal tools to support testing, automation, and operational workflowsParticipate in system bring-up, integration, and launch preparation activitiesMonitor and support on-orbit operations, including debugging and performance optimizationContribute to system architecture decisions across software and hardware boundariesBalance speed, reliability, and scalability in a fast-paced development environmentInvestigate anomalies across hardware/software boundaries, perform root cause analysis, and drive fixes to closureMentor engineers on the team and review designs and code to raise overall software qualityHelp drive the team toward a near-term on-orbit demonstration, making pragmatic scope and risk tradeoffs along the way Basic Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field2+ years of experience building production software systemsStrong programming skills in languages such as Python or GoExperience working close to hardware, distributed systems, or real-time systemsSolid understanding of systems fundamentals (operating systems, networking, concurrency)Experience working in fast-paced, engineering-driven environments Preferred Qualifications Experience with real-time operating systems software, embedded systems, or roboticsBackground in aerospace, autonomous systems, or high-reliability environmentsExperience building simulation frameworks or hardware-in-the-loop testing systemsFamiliarity with Linux-based systems and low-level debuggingExperience with cloud infrastructure or distributed systems for mission operationsTrack record of owning systems end-to-end in high-ownership environments Compensation And Benefits The salary range for this position is $145,000 - $171,000 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 insurance401(k) retirement savings planPaid time off10 paid holidays per calendar yearPaid parental leaveRelocation assistance if applicableDaily 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.