Lead Propulsion Analyst

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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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:

Our Propulsion team is seeking a highly skilled Lead Propulsion Analyst to lead and support advanced engineering simulation efforts across structural, fluid, and thermal disciplines. This role is responsible for developing, maintaining, and enforcing modeling standards and best practices for Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and thermal analysis activities.

The ideal candidate will possess strong multiphysics simulation expertise, a deep understanding of numerical methods, and experience establishing engineering analysis standards that ensure consistency, accuracy, verification, and validation. This position is located onsite in Seattle WA.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct, document, and present static, thermal, dynamic, and fatigue analyses for rocket engine and vehicle through state of the art modelling (FEA, CFD and thermal) and first principles to ensure performance requirements are met

• Collaborate in driving necessary analyses throughout engine component design cycles

• Ensure model predictions are grounded in reality through a practical hands-on approach

• Work closely with hardware and test teams to drive model anchoring and design improvements

• Produce quality documentation of your work to reduce miss-rate and improve efficiency

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Mechanical, Aerospace, Applied Physics, or related field.

• Strong experience with engineering simulation and numerical analysis methods

• Experience with 0-D and 1-D thermal/fluid networks

• Proficient in simulation platforms like ANSYS and/or Thermal Desktop

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing enterprise-level simulation standards and engineering processes.

• Familiarity with aerospace, defense, automotive, energy or industrial certification environments.

• Working knowledge of scripting languages (specifically Python)

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to deliver against an aggressive schedule

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.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan

• Paid time off

• 10 paid holidays per calendar year

• Paid parental leave

• Relocation assistance if applicable

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.