Senior Controls Engineer

The role

You will design and develop motor controls, automation sequences, and embedded control systems for vehicle fluid systems. This includes motor-driven valve and pump actuation, automated sequences, and closed-loop control of fluid subsystems.

What you will do

• Design and implement motor control systems for electrically actuated valves and pumps
• Develop automated sequences for propellant fill, drain, vent, and conditioning operations
• Architect and implement closed-loop control for fluid system parameters
• Select and integrate actuators, motors, encoders, position sensors, and instrumentation
• Design control electronics hardware or define requirements for electrical engineering partners
• Develop embedded firmware and real-time control software
• Perform system modeling and simulation to validate control strategies
• Define and execute hardware-in-the-loop and system-level test campaigns
• Develop fault detection, isolation, and recovery logic
• Work with fluid systems, propulsion, avionics, and software teams to integrate controls

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering field
• 3+ years of experience in controls engineering, mechatronics, or automation for hardware systems
• Experience with motor control (BLDC, stepper, or brushed) including drive electronics and feedback control
• Experience with PID control loops, kalman filtering, feedforward control or other control loops and estimation algorithms
• Proficiency in embedded programming (C/C++) for real-time control applications
• Experience developing automated sequences or state machines for complex physical systems
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors, actuators, and control electronics into hardware assemblies

Nice to have

• Experience with PLC/PAC programming or custom sequencing engines for ground support equipment
• Knowledge of control system design tools (MATLAB/Simulink, Python, LabVIEW, or equivalent)
• Experience designing or specifying motor drives and power electronics for harsh environments
• Familiarity with communication protocols common in aerospace (CAN, RS-422, EtherCAT, SpaceWire)
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and rapid prototyping of control systems
• Understanding of fluid system physics as it relates to control design
• Experience with launch vehicle, spacecraft, or rocket engine fluid system controls
• Familiarity with cryogenic fluid handling and the controls challenges of cryogenic environments

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 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
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Before you apply

• 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. Depar

About the company

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. The company is based in San Carlos, CA.