---
title: 'Senior Aerothermal Analysis Engineer at Cowboy Space Corp.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-aerothermal-analysis-engineer-cowboy-space-corp-kent-m63fnbnwhhak'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-13'
---

# Senior Aerothermal Analysis Engineer at Cowboy Space Corp.

- **Company:** Cowboy Space Corp.
- **Location:** Kent, WA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/cowboyspace/44977cd8-0e7b-4c27-a9db-2dc49e4c8df8/application

**Skills:** Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), MINIVER, UNLATCH, DPLR, LAURA, US3D, Hypersonic aerodynamics, Boundary layer physics, Convective heat transfer, Radiative heat transfer, Aeroheating database management, Arc-jet testing, High-enthalpy wind-tunnel testing, Test-to-analysis correlation, FIAT, CHAR, Python, MATLAB, Ablative TPS response modeling, Radiative heat transfer in shock layers

> Technical lead for predicting and managing aerodynamic heating environments on launch vehicle surfaces during ascent and re-entry. Responsible for CFD modeling, TPS sizing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to define vehicle thermal protection requirements.

## 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 Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.

## The Role

As an Aerothermal Analysis Engineer you will be the technical lead for predicting and managing the aerodynamic heating environments on the external surfaces of our new launch vehicle. This role will focus on predicting and characterizing the aerothermal environments experienced during ascent and re-entry, driving the boundary conditions that define the vehicle’s external structures, including the main substrates and the required thermal protection system (TPS). This role can be located in Seattle WA or at our HQ in San Carlos.

## Responsibilities

- Environment Definition: Generate high-fidelity aerodynamic pressure and heating environments, for nominal and off-nominal conditions, for launch vehicle’s ascent and re-entry trajectories using engineering-level tools and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes.
- CFD Modeling & Simulation: Set up, execute, and post-process viscous, reacting-flow CFD simulations to characterize surface heating rates, pressure distributions, and boundary layer transition.
- TPS Sizing & Margin Management: Work closely with TPS and structures engineers to translate aeroheating predictions into material selection, sizing, and margin assessments.
- Aerothermal Database Management: Develop, maintain, and version-control the aeroheating database used across vehicle design cycles; define uncertainty bands and apply appropriate design factors.
- Test Planning & Correlation: Define ground-test requirements for arc-jet, wind-tunnel, and flight instrumentation; correlate analytical predictions to test data and update models accordingly.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Coordinate with aerodynamics, structures, thermodynamics, propulsion, and systems engineering teams to ensure aeroheating constraints are properly captured in vehicle requirements and design.
- Documentation & Reporting: Author technical reports, design review packages, and analysis notes that clearly communicate aerothermal results, assumptions, and uncertainties to internal and external stakeholders.

## Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in aeroheating analysis for launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, or hypersonic systems.
- Proficiency with engineering-level aeroheating tools (e.g., MINIVER, UNLATCH, or equivalent).
- Experience with viscous CFD solvers applicable to high-speed, high-temperature flows (e.g., DPLR, LAURA, US3D, or equivalent).
- Strong understanding of hypersonic aerodynamics, boundary layer physics, and convective and radiative heat transfer.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain aeroheating databases with defined uncertainties and design margins.
- Experience supporting design reviews and authoring technical documentation.

## Preferred Qualifications

- Master’s or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of experience performing aeroheating analyses for launch vehicles, re-entry vehicles, or hypersonic platforms, including flight-certified programs.
- Hands-on experience with arc-jet or high-enthalpy wind-tunnel testing and test-to-analysis correlation.
- Familiarity with radiative heat transfer in high-temperature shock layers and ablative TPS response modeling (e.g., FIAT, CHAR).
- Experience with Python or MATLAB scripting for automated post-processing of CFD and aeroheating databases.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to drive design decisions under uncertainty across multi-disciplinary teams.

## About Cowboy Space Corp.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Cowboy Space Corp. is building a vertically integrated orbital infrastructure system—satellites, rockets, and space-based solar power—to run AI compute in Low Earth Orbit.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B, raised $275 M in May 2026 at a $2 B valuation)
- **Headquarters**: San Carlos, California, United States (with an engineering hub in Seattle, WA)
- **Founded**: 2023 per LinkedIn; 2024 per Built In and other reports (conflicting data)
- **Founders**: Baiju Bhatt (co‑founder and former co‑CEO of Robinhood)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Space‑based AI infrastructure / Defense and Space Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: AI companies, hyperscalers, government/defense agencies that need high‑performance compute without Earth’s power‑grid constraints
- **Mission statement**: “Build the power grid for AI in space” – harnessing abundant solar power in Low Earth Orbit to run on‑orbit GPU data centers

## Products & Services
- **Stampede Constellation**: A planned 20,000‑satellite LEO constellation of orbital data centers that capture solar energy to power NVIDIA GPU racks (~800 GPUs per satellite). Inter‑satellite optical laser links provide high‑speed data transmission.
- **Purpose‑Built Launch Vehicle**: A rocket whose upper stage is itself a 1‑megawatt data center with active thermal management and integrated compute, eliminating redundant structure and mass. First launch targeted before end of 2028.
- **Space‑Based Solar Power**: Satellites in dawn‑dusk sun‑synchronous orbits capture near‑continuous solar energy, beaming power wirelessly via infrared lasers (first demo satellite built with Apex Space).
- **NVIDIA Space‑1 Vera Rubin Modules**: Custom AI compute hardware designed for LEO, integrated into the Stampede satellites.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: $2 B as of the Series B round in May 2026
- **Key Metric**: Total funding ~$335 M (Series B $275 M + Series A $50 M + seed/pre‑seed ~$10 M). Annual revenue is not publicly available.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Index Ventures (lead, Series B), IVP, Blossom Capital, SAIC, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Construct Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Interlagos, Baiju Bhatt (personal capital). Partnered with NVIDIA, Apex Space, and the U.S. Department of Defense (OECIF funding).
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Headcount grew ~205 % year‑over‑year (42 employees per LinkedIn mid‑2026; Built In reports 61 total employees – conflicting data)
  - Filed FCC application in May 2026 for a 20,000‑satellite orbital data center system
  - Opened a Seattle engineering hub in March 2026
  - Won DoD funding for power beam proof‑of‑concept; received Commercial Spaceflight Federation membership

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full‑stack integration**: The rocket’s upper stage is the satellite itself, eliminating redundant mass and dedicated launch‑satellite interfaces, allowing more compute per kilogram.
- **Space‑based solar power**: Satellites in sun‑synchronous orbits harvest near‑continuous solar energy, bypassing terrestrial grid bottlenecks that take 5–7 years for new data center connections.
- **Vertically owned manufacturing and launch**: Controls the entire value chain – from launch vehicle to orbital data center and optical data transmission – enabling rapid iteration and scale.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale the Stampede constellation to thousands of satellites, each hosting hundreds of GPUs, to deliver orbital compute at a scale impossible on Earth.
- Launch the first satellite (power beaming demo with Apex Space) and complete the first integrated vehicle launch before 2028.
- Continue to partner with defense and government agencies (e.g., DoD) while also serving commercial AI customers.
- Rebranded from “Aetherflux” in May 2026 to unify the company’s identity around the “Cowboy” mission.

## Why Work Here
- **Team pedigree**: Engineers from SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA/JPL, Astranis, Anduril, Amazon Kuiper, NVIDIA, and Robinhood. Strong aerospace and AI/ML culture.
- **Work model**: Hybrid – employees engage in a combination of remote and on‑site work; many roles are listed as “in‑office” in San Carlos or Seattle.
- **Culture & perks**: A fast‑paced startup tackling one of the hardest infrastructure problems (space‑based AI compute). Roles span electrical engineering, optical comms, GNC, firmware, supply chain, and talent acquisition. Emphasis on “building the future” and strengthening U.S. energy independence and national security.
- **Growth opportunity**: Joining a company that has just raised a $275 M Series B at a $2 B valuation, with aggressive hiring across technical and leadership positions.

## Sources
1. [cowboyspace.com](https://www.cowboyspace.com/)
2. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowboyspace)
3. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/cowboy-space-corporation)
4. [siliconvalleyinvestclub.com](https://siliconvalleyinvestclub.com/cowboy-space/)

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