Full-Time
Optics Lab Manager & Test Engineer
Cowboy Space Corporation
51-200 employees
In-orbit power, compute, and launches
Compensation Overview
$145k - $223k/yr
No H1B Sponsorship
San Carlos, CA, USA
In Person
Bachelor's, Associate's
 Lab & Research (1) |
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 QA & Testing (1) |
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- At least 3 years of hands-on experience in an optical or photonics lab environment.
- Experience operating standard optical test equipment, including optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, oscilloscopes, and beam profilers.
- Ability to perform precision optical alignment on a bench.
- Familiarity with Class 3B and Class 4 laser safety requirements.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to documentation.
- Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, 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.
- Own lab operations, including equipment calibration schedules, inventory, and configuration management of test setups.
- Maintain laser safety requirements, including interlocks, personal protective equipment, and posted procedures, in coordination with the Laser Safety Officer.
- Assist engineers with setup and alignment of free-space optical assemblies, interferometric subassemblies, and fiber-optic components.
- Support integration and alignment of deployable opto-mechanical assemblies.
- Support field demonstration campaigns, including ground station setup, fiber-optic system checkout, and pointing, acquisition, and tracking system validation.
- Execute formal test procedures and record results accurately.
- Operate test equipment, including optical spectrum analyzers, optical power meters, oscilloscopes, bit error rate testers, and beam profilers.
- Maintain lab documentation, including cable and fiber routing logs, component records, and test configurations.
- Coordinate with facilities on lab infrastructure, power, and safety requirements.
- Experience with high-power fiber laser or amplifier systems.
- Experience handling and assembling precision opto-mechanical hardware, including interferometric or polarization-sensitive assemblies.
- Experience supporting environmental test campaigns, including thermal-vacuum and vibration testing, for optical hardware.
- Experience managing a shared lab across multiple engineers and programs.
- An Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Optical Technology, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
Cowboy Space Corporation builds integrated orbital infrastructure combining rocket propulsion, space-based power generation, and in-orbit high-performance computing. Its blank-sheet design treats the rocket upper stage and the compute payload as a single vehicle; once in orbit the upper stage becomes a one-megawatt data center delivering continuous energy and compute in space. It differentiates itself by vertically integrating rocket and hardware production and by delivering scalable, always-on energy and compute in orbit instead of relying on ground-based data centers. Its goal is to enable a self-sustaining orbital economy powered by AI workloads and large-scale data fusion, bypassing terrestrial power limits and environmental constraints.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Series B
Total Funding
$335M
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2024
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Cowboy closed a $275 million Series B in May 2026 at a $2 billion valuation.
- Nvidia named Cowboy among Space-1 partners, validating its GPU-heavy orbital-compute thesis.
- Seattle hiring for avionics, propulsion, and spacecraft roles shows active buildout through 2026.
What critics are saying
- FCC File SAT-LOA-20260323-00135 faces NEPA opposition and waiver challenges in 2026.
- A first proprietary rocket before end-2028 depends on unproven propulsion, thermal, and reentry integration.
- SpaceX, Starcloud, and Blue Origin can outspend Cowboy and seize orbital compute customers.
What makes Cowboy Space Corporation unique
- Baiju Bhatt rebranded Aetherflux as Cowboy Space in May 2026.
- Cowboy integrates rocket upper stage and data center into one vehicle.
- Stampede targets 1-megawatt orbital compute with optical links, not conventional satellite buses.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Company Equity
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
Relocation Assistance
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↓ -16%1 year growth
↓ -17%2 year growth
↓ -22%Cowboy Space Corporation, the orbital infrastructure company founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, today announced $275M in Series B financing at a $2...
Cowboy Space has raised $275 million at a $2 billion valuation to develop rockets with upper stages that function as data centres in low Earth orbit. The company emerged from stealth less than two years ago under the name Aetherflux, initially focusing on space-based solar power. The funding will support development of the orbital data centre technology integrated into rocket upper stages.
Aetherflux, the orbital energy infrastructure company founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, has appointed Brad Koenig to its advisory board. Koenig will provide strategic guidance on commercial strategy as the company prepares for its first orbital data centre project launch, targeted for Q1 2027. Koenig brings over 20 years of experience in investment banking and consulting. He recently served as senior relationship director for the US Department of Commerce's NIST-CHIPS programme office, working with major tech companies including Intel, Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia. He previously spent two decades as a partner at Goldman Sachs and founded FoodyDirect.com, which was acquired by Goldbelly. Founded in 2024, Aetherflux is building an orbital compute network backed by Index Ventures and NEA.
Aetherflux in talks for $250-350M Series B at $2B valuation led by Index Ventures. March 28, 2026 at 11:40 AM - by MLQ Agent Key points. * Aetherflux is in talks for a Series B round of $250 million to $350 million at a $2 billion valuation, led by Index Ventures14. * The company, co-founded by Robinhood's Baiju Bhatt, has raised about $80 million since 2024, following a $50 million Series A in April 2025 that brought total funding to $60 million124. * Aetherflux is pivoting from laser-based Earth power transmission to space-based data centers to address AI energy demands, with its first satellite targeted for 20272. * Previous investors include Index Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and NEA; the company has U.S. Department of Defense support123. Aetherflux, the space solar power startup co-founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, is negotiating a Series B funding round of $250 million to $350 million at a $2 billion valuation, led by Index Ventures. The company, which has raised about $80 million since its 2024 founding, is shifting focus to orbital data centers for AI computing needs. Company background and prior funding. Aetherflux, headquartered in San Carlos, California, was founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood. The startup emerged from stealth in late 2024 and raised $50 million in a Series A round in April 2025, led by Index Ventures and Interlagos, with participation from Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, and others. This brought total funding to $60 million, including Bhatt's $10 million personal investment 124. The funds supported hiring engineers and developing technology for initial missions. Technology pivot and development plans. Initially focused on space-based solar power using infrared lasers to transmit energy to Earth ground stations, Aetherflux aimed for a low Earth orbit demonstration in 2026. The company received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund for military applications 123. It is now pivoting to 'Galactic Brain,' a constellation of satellites serving as orbital data centers powered by space solar energy to meet AI computing demands. The first commercial data center node is slated for launch in 2027 2. Investor interest and strategic expansion. The potential Series B would mark a significant jump from prior rounds, reflecting investor appetite for orbital infrastructure amid AI energy challenges. Index Ventures, an existing backer, is leading the talks. Aetherflux has expanded with a new hub in Seattle for satellite development and employs talent from SpaceX, NASA, Robinhood, and the U.S. Navy 2. Valuation jump drivers. The proposed $2 billion valuation for Aetherflux's Series B represents a more than 33-fold increase from its post-money valuation after the $50 million Series A, which totaled around $60 million raised 14. This surge aligns with heightened venture capital flows into space infrastructure, driven by AI's escalating power requirements that terrestrial grids struggle to meet. Aetherflux's pivot from general space solar to AI-specific orbital data centers positions it to tap into a market where hyperscalers like those backed by Andreessen Horowitz face energy bottlenecks 2. Existing DoD funding validates the laser transmission tech for remote and military use, potentially de-risking commercial scalability 13 . Index Ventures' repeat leadership signals confidence in execution, given their early Series A involvement and public endorsement of the energy-to-Earth vision 5. However, the shift from 2026 power demos to 2027 data centers introduces execution risks, as satellite constellations demand reliable power beaming over vast distances. Competition from entities like Caltech, Virtus Solis, and state-backed projects in the UK and China adds pressure, though Aetherflux's AI focus and Bhatt's track record differentiate it 3. Satellite launch timeline. Aetherflux's first orbital data center satellite in 2027 will serve as a critical proof-of-concept for the Galactic Brain constellation, potentially unlocking follow-on funding if it demonstrates reliable solar-powered AI computing 2. Success could accelerate deployments, with the Seattle hub enabling faster iteration amid the regional space talent pool. Regulatory approvals for orbital operations and spectrum allocation for laser transmission remain key hurdles, especially with DoD ties possibly expediting military validations 13 . Broader market adoption hinges on cost reductions in launches and power efficiency, areas where SpaceX alumni on the team may provide edges. If the Series B closes at the high end, Aetherflux could expand its 10-person team significantly, targeting hyperscale AI providers strained by Earth-bound energy limits 24. Investor momentum from this round may spur parallel investments in space-AI infrastructure, reshaping orbital economics by 2030. Further sources. Written with AI assistance, verified and edited by its team. Questions? Contact MLQ.ai.
Space power startup Aetherflux targets $2b valuation. Aetherflux, a space solar power startup launched by Robinhood founder Baiju Bhatt, is in talks to raise US$250 million to US$350 million in a series B that would value the company at US$2 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. The report said Index Ventures is leading the round, and Aetherflux has raised about US$80 million since its founding in 2024. The company has recently shifted focus toward using its power generation technology for space-based data centers, moving away from its earlier plan to beam electricity to Earth using lasers. Bhatt said Aetherflux still plans to test laser power transmission on a satellite bus built by Apex Space, and it expects its first data center satellite in 2027. Food for thought. Implications, context, and why it matters. The terrestrial AI boom is creating the business case for orbital data centers. * Aetherflux shifted toward data centers to meet AI-driven power demand on Earth 1. * Some AI clusters draw hundreds of megawatts. Local grids strain, hookups get delayed, and some regions pause new ground-based data center projects 1. * These limits create demand for Aetherflux's "Galactic Brain," an orbital data center node the company has named 2. * New low-Earth orbit satellite networks from SpaceX and Amazon can keep latency around 20 to 40 milliseconds, which supports remote computing use cases 3. A well-funded supply chain emerges, but so do new environmental risks. * Aetherflux's reported valuation fits a wider investment surge that is building supply chains for an orbital economy 4. * KPMG, a global accounting and consulting firm, says space startups drew funding across all rounds in 2025. Examples include Stoke Space (US$870 million) and Apex Space (US$400 million). Those figures are not tied directly to orbital data centers 4. * This growth also brings second-order environmental challenges that do not exist in the same way on the ground 5. * Orbital data centers avoid land and water use. Lifecycle costs can still include rocket launch emissions plus added space debris, which can reduce sustainability gains 5. How would you feel if you could no longer use Tech in Asia? Share, tag us, and land on our Wall of!