PCB Layout Engineer

Job description

**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 Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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:** The Avionics Team is looking for a PCB Layout Engineer to own the design and implementation of high-performance printed circuit boards that power our spacecraft systems. In this role, you will work closely with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers to develop complex multilayer boards supporting power electronics, compute hardware, communications systems, and mission-critical avionics. You will be responsible for translating schematics into manufacturable layouts while balancing signal integrity, power integrity, thermal performance, and reliability requirements for the space environment. **Responsibilities:** - Layout of complex multilayer PCBs for spacecraft avionics, power systems, RF systems, and compute hardware - Collaborate with electrical engineers to translate schematics into production-ready PCB designs - Define stackups and routing strategies for high-speed digital interfaces, power distribution networks, and mixed-signal designs - Perform signal integrity, power integrity, impedance control, and design rule analysis - Work closely with mechanical engineers to ensure proper board fit, thermal performance, and system integration - Generate fabrication, assembly, and manufacturing documentation packages - Partner with suppliers and contract manufacturers to support board fabrication, assembly, and bring-up activities - Drive DFM, DFA, and DFT best practices throughout the design process - Contribute to the development of internal PCB design standards and layout methodologies **Basic Qualifications:** - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field - 1-5+ years of experience in PCB layout for complex electronic systems - Experience with industry-standard PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or Mentor Graphics - Experience designing multilayer boards with controlled impedance, high-speed interfaces, and dense component placement - Understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, grounding, and EMI/EMC considerations - Experience creating manufacturing documentation and supporting board fabrication and assembly **Preferred Qualifications:** - Experience designing PCB layouts for aerospace, defense, satellite, or other high-reliability systems - Experience with high-speed interfaces such as DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, or FPGA-based systems - Familiarity with RF layout techniques and mixed-signal board design - Experience supporting environmental testing including vibration, thermal vacuum, and EMI/EMC testing - Knowledge of IPC standards and design for manufacturability best practices - Experience working in fast-paced startup environments - Experience with component creation, verification, and library management **Compensation and Benefits** The salary range for this position is **$128,000 - $160,000 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.