The RoleWe'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 deployment
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to integrate, test, and debug systems end-to-end
- Write performant, reliable code for resource-constrained and mission-critical environments
- Develop internal tools to support testing, automation, and operational workflows
- Participate in system bring-up, integration, and launch preparation activities
- Monitor and support on-orbit operations, including debugging and performance optimization
- Contribute to system architecture decisions across software and hardware boundaries
- Balance speed, reliability, and scalability in a fast-paced development environment
- Investigate anomalies across hardware/software boundaries, perform root cause analysis, and drive fixes to closure
- Mentor engineers on the team and review designs and code to raise overall software quality
- Help 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 field
- 2+ years of experience building production software systems
- Strong programming skills in languages such as Python or Go
- Experience working close to hardware, distributed systems, or real-time systems
- Solid 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 robotics
- Background in aerospace, autonomous systems, or high-reliability environments
- Experience building simulation frameworks or hardware-in-the-loop testing systems
- Familiarity with Linux-based systems and low-level debugging
- Experience with cloud infrastructure or distributed systems for mission operations
- Track 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 insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- 10 paid holidays per calendar year
- 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.
DisclaimerThis 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.
