Senior Test Software Engineer, AI Workloads
About this role
A candidate who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and has a drive to build critical infrastructure in a high-stakes environment would find this role suitable. This position is central to Cowboy Space Corporation's mission to solve the global energy crisis by developing the infrastructure for space-based solar energy. The company is focused on creating a revolutionary power platform by enabling satellites to transmit energy, power computing clusters, and provide data transport from orbit to Earth.
The Software Test Engineer will be responsible for building and maintaining the core software systems that control, operate, and scale both spacecraft and ground infrastructure. This involves developing flight software, creating simulation frameworks, and building the necessary tools for real-time hardware testing and mission operations.
This role exists to ensure the reliable operation and performance of complex space systems by bridging the gap between low-level hardware interactions and high-level mission control services. The ideal candidate thrives in an environment that demands ownership, requires collaboration with hardware teams, and needs to balance speed with the absolute necessity of reliability in mission-critical settings.
What you will do
- Design, build, and maintain software for spacecraft systems, ground systems, and mission operations.
- Develop flight software that interfaces directly with hardware and supports real-time control.
- 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.
What you need
- A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field is required.
- Candidates must possess at least three years of experience building production software systems.
- Strong programming skills in languages such as C++, Python, or Rust are necessary.
- Experience working closely with hardware, distributed systems, or real-time systems is essential.
- A solid understanding of systems fundamentals, including operating systems, networking, and concurrency, is required.
- Experience working within fast-paced, engineering-driven environments is important.
- Preferred qualifications include experience with flight software or embedded systems.
Nice to have
- Experience with flight software
- 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
Benefits
- $100,000 – $200,000 salary
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the remote policy for this role?
The posting does not explicitly state the remote work policy.
What is the compensation range for this position?
The salary offered for this role ranges from $100,000 to $200,000.
What is the primary tech stack used for this role?
The required programming skills include C++, Python, or Rust. The role involves working across the stack interacting with hardware.
What kind of team environment is this?
The role is described as highly ownership-driven, requiring close collaboration with hardware teams.