DSP Software Engineer Verified today

Cowboy Space · San Carlos, CA · RF & Comms · first seen 2026-07-25

About Cowboy Space

Cowboy Space Corp. is building infrastructure to power and connect the orbital economy. Our satellites operate in Low Earth Orbit to collect sunlight and enable new capabilities: powering on-orbit compute, transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), and delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data.

The Role

You will develop the real-time signal processing algorithms that power our space-based communications and sensing systems. You'll design, implement, and optimize software that extracts, processes, and analyzes high-speed data streams in resource-constrained environments. Working closely with FPGA, RF, avionics, and embedded software engineers, you'll own mission-critical software that directly impacts spacecraft performance and system capability.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize real-time digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms for flight systems.
Implement high-performance software in C/C++ for embedded and real-time applications.
Develop algorithms for filtering, modulation, demodulation, synchronization, channel estimation, beamforming, and spectral analysis.
Optimize signal processing software for latency, throughput, memory utilization, and power efficiency.
Collaborate with FPGA engineers to partition algorithms between software and programmable logic.
Work closely with RF, avionics, and systems engineering teams to integrate DSP capabilities into spacecraft hardware.
Validate algorithms using simulation, laboratory testing, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environments.
Develop test frameworks and analysis tools using Python or MATLAB.
Support system integration, debugging, and performance characterization during hardware bring-up and flight testing.
Participate in architecture reviews, design documentation, and peer code reviews.
Contribute to continuous integration and automated testing pipelines.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field.
5 or more years of professional experience developing DSP software.
Strong programming skills in C/C++.
Solid understanding of digital signal processing fundamentals.
Experience implementing real-time algorithms on embedded processors.
Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar environments for algorithm development and validation.
Experience with Linux-based development environments.
Strong debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Experience developing DSP software for aerospace, satellite communications, radar, wireless communications, or defense systems.
Knowledge of modulation schemes, error correction coding, synchronization, equalization, and adaptive filtering.
Experience with beamforming, phased array systems, or software-defined radio (SDR).
Experience optimizing software for ARM, x86, or heterogeneous compute platforms.
Familiarity with CUDA, GPU acceleration, SIMD optimization, or multicore processing.
Experience collaborating with FPGA development teams on hardware/software co-design.
Knowledge of communication protocols and RF system architectures.
Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $167,000 to $214,000 annually. Actual base salary depends on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
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 fully stocked kitchen

ITAR Requirements

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.