Senior Responsible Engineer, Stage 1

The role

You will be the Responsible Engineer for the reusable first stage of a launch vehicle. You will own the entire lifecycle from architecture and design through assembly, test, launch, recovery, and refurbishment.

What you will do

• Own the Stage 1 program from architecture and design through flight, recovery, and reflight
• Define Stage 1 architecture, conceptual design, and stage-level requirements
• Define and manage subsystem requirements and interfaces
• Track stage technical performance, mass, margins, and risk
• Define and manage schedule and budget for the Stage 1 program
• Lead stage assembly, integration, and integrated test campaigns
• Define the verification and qualification plan and manage its execution
• Develop stage operating procedures and operational limits
• Participate in test and launch operations to make real-time engineering decisions
• Drive design-for-reuse decisions and own the stage upgrade plan

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the design, build, integration, or test of launch vehicles, rocket stages, or similarly complex aerospace flight systems
• Demonstrated experience on one or more development programs through a significant portion of the lifecycle
• Demonstrated ability to lead and integrate a team of technical contributors spanning propulsion, structures, mechanical, fluids, avionics, GNC, and software disciplines
• Strong knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals applied practically in a fast-paced development program
• Exceptional command of fundamentals: structures and loads, fluid systems, thermodynamics, cryogenics, flight dynamics, and control systems
• Experience with integrated stage- or vehicle-level testing
• Strong data analysis and data reduction skills
• Hands-on experience with fabrication, assembly, and integration of flight hardware
• Ability to lead; ability to follow
• Demonstrated history of excellent written and verbal communication and team-building
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering, or equivalent

Nice to have

• Experience as the responsible engineer, chief engineer, or technical lead for a launch vehicle stage or other major flight system
• Experience with reusable launch vehicles: recovery, inspection, refurbishment, and recertification of flown hardware
• Experience with LNG/methane or other cryogenic propellant systems
• Familiarity with launch operations, range safety, and flight termination systems
• Experience with vehicle-level analyses: trajectory and performance, mass properties, loads, and GNC for powered descent and landing
• Experience with CAD tools and configuration management (Siemens NX/Teamcenter or equivalent)

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 to power and connect the orbital economy. The company is building modular, scalable satellites to collect sunlight in Low Earth Orbit.