Head of Software and Firmware

About Cowboy Space Corp.

Cowboy Space Corp. is building the infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable a new class of capabilities—from powering on-orbit compute, to transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), powering on-orbit compute to delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data. By rethinking how energy and data are generated and distributed in space, we’re unlocking entirely new ways to operate both in orbit and on Earth.

Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (co-founder of Robinhood), Cowboy Space Corp. is backed by leading investors and built by a team from top aerospace and defense organizations. We’re moving quickly to solve complex technical challenges and build a new category of space infrastructure.

The Role

We are looking for a Head of Software and Firmware to lead the architecture, development, and deployment of the full software stack that powers our space-based platforms—from low-level firmware and embedded systems to onboard compute, autonomy, and distributed data processing.

This role owns the end-to-end strategy across firmware, embedded software, and higher-level onboard systems that enable energy transmission, real-time spacecraft control, and high-bandwidth data processing in orbit. You will define how software and firmware co-design tightly with custom hardware to operate in power-constrained, thermally dynamic, and radiation-exposed environments.

You will work cross-functionally with hardware, spacecraft, GNC, RF, and mission teams to deliver robust, high-performance, and fault-tolerant systems. This is a critical leadership role with significant ownership over system architecture, team building, and execution across both software and firmware domains.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical vision and roadmap for onboard software and firmware across spacecraft platforms

• Lead the design and development of embedded software, firmware, and real-time systems for space environments

• Own end-to-end system architecture across firmware, BSPs, operating systems, middleware, and application layers

• Build and lead a high-performing team of software and firmware engineers, setting technical direction, culture, and execution standards

• Drive full lifecycle development from concept through architecture, implementation, validation, and in-orbit deployment

• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware, GNC, RF, and spacecraft teams to ensure tight hardware/software/firmware integration

• Oversee development of low-level firmware for processors, microcontrollers, FPGAs, and custom hardware interfaces

• Design and implement real-time control systems, autonomy frameworks, and high-throughput data processing pipelines

• Optimize systems for performance, latency, power efficiency, thermal constraints, and reliability in space environments

• Establish robust testing and validation strategies, including SIL, HIL (hardware-in-the-loop), and mission simulation environments

• Define tooling, infrastructure, CI/CD, and build systems for embedded software and firmware development

• Lead system-level trade studies balancing compute performance, memory, bandwidth, latency, and resource constraints

• Ensure reliability through fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies across software and firmware layers

• Represent software and firmware in architecture reviews, PDR/CDR, and executive-level discussions

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software and/or firmware engineering, with deep focus on embedded, real-time, or high-performance systems

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• Proven experience designing and shipping complex software and/or firmware systems (e.g., embedded platforms, real-time systems, distributed compute systems)

• Strong proficiency in low-level programming (C, C++, Rust, or similar) and experience working close to hardware

• Experience with embedded systems, firmware development, and real-time operating systems (RTOS)

• Solid understanding of system architecture, hardware/software co-design, and performance optimization

• Experience leading technical projects or teams with increasing scope and ownership

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software and firmware for space, aerospace, or other high-reliability environments (e.g., automotive, defense, robotics)

• Deep understanding of radiation effects (SEUs, latch-up) and mitigation strategies at the software and firmware level

• Experience optimizing systems under strict SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) constraints, particularly in edge or embedded environments

• Strong experience with board support packages (BSP), device drivers, bootloaders, and low-level hardware bring-up

• Familiarity with high-speed interconnects (PCIe, Ethernet, SpaceWire, etc.), memory architectures, and data movement optimization

• Experience building and tuning real-time, deterministic systems with strict latency and timing requirements

• Proven ability to design and implement fault-tolerant, resilient systems for mission-critical applications

• Experience with distributed or edge compute systems, including GPU/TPU acceleration or onboard AI/ML inference

• Track record of scaling engineering teams in startup or high-growth environments, including hiring and organizational design

• Demonstrated success delivering complex systems from early concept through production and deployment

• Experience operating within rigorous validation and verification frameworks, including safety- or mission-critical standards

• Strong cross-functional leadership experience working with hardware, systems, and mission engineering teams

• Passion for space systems, energy infrastructure, and building novel compute platforms in orbit

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 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.