PCB Layout Engineer

Cowboy Space • San Carlos, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

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. 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.

Requirements

• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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

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

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Daily lunch in the office
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks
• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level