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Mechanical Engineer | Deployable Radiators

Cowboy Space Corporation· Spacecraft Engineering
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Kent, Washington$150k - $200kFull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Mechanical Engineer responsible for large deployable radiators that reject heat from on-orbit compute payload and integrate the spacecraft’s liquid cooling loop. End-to-end ownership from concept and analysis through ground testbeds, qualification and on-orbit deployment in a fast-paced, structures-first role.

Responsibilities

  • Own the structural design of the deployable radiator panels from concept through flight, sizing them to survive stowed launch and ascent loads and to deploy into a radiating surface.
  • Perform structural analysis across the full mission profile, including quasi-static and random vibration launch loads and deployed-state dynamics.
  • Drive design-for-manufacturing of the panels and their assemblies, including joining and/or bonding methods, and work with suppliers to ensure high-quality, scalable production.
  • Design the deployment mechanisms that stow, restrain, and deploy the radiators—hinges, latches, and release devices—and the interfaces that carry loads into the spacecraft.
  • Analyze deployment kinematics, mechanism loads, restraint release, synchronization, and deployment reliability and margin, and design out jam and hang-up risks.
  • Integrate the radiator panels with the liquid cooling loop and perform the thermal design of the radiator—heat rejection, fin efficiency, and thermal gradients—in partnership with the thermal team.
  • Design, build, and operate ground testbeds and dev rigs to characterize panels and mechanisms, validate deployment, and de-risk the flight design ahead of qualification.
  • Develop and execute deployment, structural static/modal, vibration, thermal-vacuum, and qualification/acceptance test programs to verify flight-worthiness.
  • Author and maintain drawings, interface control documents, analysis reports, test procedures, and release/configuration records.
  • Diagnose and resolve structural, mechanism, and thermal anomalies during integration and test, applying root-cause analysis and implementing corrective actions.
  • Partner with thermal, structures, propulsion, power, avionics, and software teams to ensure the radiators integrate seamlessly within the overall spacecraft architecture.
  • Embrace a fast-paced development environment, driving quick design cycles, hardware builds, and test campaigns to accelerate the program schedule.

Qualifications

  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
  • 3+ years of experience designing and analyzing lightweight structures and mechanical hardware in aerospace or other high-performance environments
  • Strong structural fundamentals: strength, stiffness, and buckling lightweight structures, and bonded and mechanically fastened joints
  • Hands-on experience designing mechanisms such as hinges, latches, springs, and release devices or large structural assemblies
  • Proficiency with FEA for static, modal, and dynamic analysis of structures
  • Experience taking hardware from concept through build and test, with hands-on integration and test experience
  • Proficiency with CAD (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, or similar)
  • Experience working in fast-paced, hardware-focused development environments

Skills

Required:Mechanical design of radiators and deployable structuresStructural analysis (static, modal, dynamic) for aerospace hardwareDeployment mechanism design (hinges, latches, release devices)Thermal integration with liquid cooling loopGround testbeds and development rigs

Benefits

  • Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
  • 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
Last updated Sep 6, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About Cowboy Space Corporation

Powering Humanity From the High Frontier

Cowboy Space Corp. is building a power grid in outer space for artificial intelligence. It is an integrated system of satellites and rockets to haul high-performance compute and optical data transmission down from Low Earth Orbit. Earth's energy grid can't run at the pace of AI. We can.

Orbital Data CentersAI compute in spacesolar-powered data centersLow Earth Orbitpower grid in space
Company profileWebsite

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