{"id":91160,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer","title":"DSP Software Engineer","company":{"id":8929,"name":"Cowboy Space","domain":"cowboyspace.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/cowboyspace","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"C","score":68,"open_postings":10,"ghost_share":0.2,"stale_share":0.7,"repost_share":0.2,"time_to_fill_p50_days":35,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["San Carlos, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":167000,"max":214000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":214000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"TPU","optional":false},{"name":"CUDA","optional":true},{"name":"CUDA Toolkit","optional":true},{"name":"Git","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-24T16:56:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-15","last_verified_at":"2026-10-17T21:13:57Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":85,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":85},"description":"About Cowboy Space Corp:\nMission\nCowboy 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.\nBackground\nCowboy 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.\nCurrent 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.\nBaiju 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.\nThis 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.\nThe Role\nWe're looking for a DSP Software Engineer to develop the real-time signal processing algorithms that power our space-based communications and sensing systems. In this role, you'll design, implement, and optimize software that extracts, processes, and analyzes high-speed data streams in resource-constrained environments. You'll collaborate closely with FPGA, RF, avionics, and embedded software engineers to develop algorithms that enable reliable operation in one of the most challenging environments imaginable. This is an opportunity to own mission-critical software that directly impacts spacecraft performance and system capability.\nResponsibilities\nDesign, develop, and optimize real-time digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for flight systems.\n\nImplement high-performance software in C/C++ for embedded and real-time applications.\n\nDevelop algorithms for filtering, modulation, demodulation, synchronization, channel estimation, beamforming, and spectral analysis.\n\nOptimize signal processing software for latency, throughput, memory utilization, and power efficiency.\n\nCollaborate with FPGA engineers to partition algorithms between software and programmable logic.\n\nWork closely with RF, avionics, and systems engineering teams to integrate DSP capabilities into spacecraft hardware.\n\nValidate algorithms using simulation, laboratory testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments.\n\nDevelop test frameworks and analysis tools using Python or MATLAB.\n\nSupport system integration, debugging, and performance characterization during hardware bring-up and flight testing.\n\nParticipate in architecture reviews, design documentation, and peer code reviews.\n\nContribute to continuous integration and automated testing pipelines.\n\nBasic Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.\n\n5+ years of professional experience developing DSP software.\n\nStrong programming skills in C/C++.\n\nSolid understanding of digital signal processing fundamentals.\n\nExperience implementing real-time algorithms on embedded processors.\n\nFamiliarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar environments for algorithm development and validation.\n\nExperience with Linux-based development environments.\n\nStrong debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills.\n\nPreferred Qualifications\nMaster's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing, Computer Engineering, or a related field.\n\nExperience developing DSP software for aerospace, satellite communications, radar, wireless communications, or defense systems.\n\nKnowledge of modulation schemes, error correction coding, synchronization, equalization, and adaptive filtering.\n\nExperience with beamforming, phased array systems, or software-defined radio (SDR).\n\nExperience optimizing software for ARM, x86, or heterogeneous compute platforms.\n\nFamiliarity with CUDA, GPU acceleration, SIMD optimization, or multicore processing.\n\nExperience collaborating with FPGA development teams on hardware/software co-design.\n\nKnowledge of communication protocols and RF system architectures.\n\nExperience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.\n\nCompensation and Benefits\nThe salary range for this position is$167,000 - $214,000 annually. The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.\nEquity in Cowboy Space Corp.\n\nEmployees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance\n\n401(k) retirement savings plan\n\nPaid time off\n\n10 paid holidays per calendar year\n\nPaid parental leave\n\nRelocation assistance if applicable\n\nDaily lunch in the office and a fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks\n\nITAR Requirements\nExport 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.\n\nDisclaimer\nThis 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.\nCowboy 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":7450,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Parental leave","Relocation assistance","Retirement plans","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing","Space Services","AI Compute & Inference"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-07-24T16:56:00Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":16,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.457,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":84,"expected_fill_days":35,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","velocity","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":214000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/cowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/cowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-17T22:46:26Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":915,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-18T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":8929},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=8929"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fcowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fcowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fcowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/cowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fcowboyspace-dsp-software-engineer"}]}