Senior Loads & Dynamics 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Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.

About the Role:

Serve as the technical authority for the loads and dynamic environments that define what the vehicle must survive. You'll own the load cases and dynamic models that drive structural sizing across ascent, stage separation, entry, landing, and reuse. As a senior individual contributor, you'll set the methodology, make the judgment calls on where to add fidelity and where to move fast, and raise the bar for the discipline by mentoring engineers and driving decisions across teams: ensuring the vehicle is neither over-built nor under-designed for the environments it actually sees.

Responsibilities

• Own the vehicle loads as the discipline lead: quasi-static, transient, and dynamic load cases across ground handling, ascent, separation, entry, landing, and reuse.

• Establish the methods, tools, and standards the loads and dynamics discipline works to.

• Build and maintain structural dynamic models (FEM, modal, coupled loads) and reconcile them with test and flight data.

• Define vibration, shock, acoustic, and random-vibe environments for components, mechanisms, and payloads.

• Perform coupled loads analysis (CLA) and integrate propulsion, aero, GNC, and structural inputs into a consistent load set.

• Deliver clear, timely load sets and interface requirements to structures, mechanisms, and propulsion teams.

• Assess flutter, buffet, slosh, and other aeroelastic/coupled dynamic phenomena.

• Support test planning and correlation—modal surveys, static and dynamic test campaigns—and update models from results.

• Investigate anomalies and reconstruct flight loads from telemetry to improve future load predictions.

• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance across the structures and mechanisms teams.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or related engineering field.

• 8+ years of experience in loads, structural dynamics, or vibration analysis for flight hardware or high-performance systems.

• Deep proficiency with finite element modeling and dynamic analysis (modal, transient, frequency response).

• Demonstrated ownership of load cases and environments that drove the structural design of a flight vehicle or major system.

• Proven ability to correlate models against test or flight data and adjust methodology accordingly.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant engineering field.

• Experience with launch vehicles or reusable flight systems.

• Hands-on experience owning coupled loads analysis (CLA) campaigns.

• Familiarity with aeroelasticity (flutter, buffet) and coupled phenomena.

• Experience defining and correlating vibration, shock, and acoustic environments.

• Proficiency with tools such as Adams, LS-DYNA, or equivalent, plus scripting (Python/MATLAB) for load-set processing and automation.

• Experience supporting structural test campaigns and modal surveys.

• Track record of mentoring engineers and setting technical direction without formal authority.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $160,000 – $220,000 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.