Senior CNC Machinist

About this role

Mission

Cowboy 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.

Background

Cowboy 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.

Current energy and data systems rely on complex logistics and outdated infrastructure.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.

Baiju 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.

This 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.

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior CNC Machinist to own parts from model to finished, inspected hardware as we build a rocket engine factory from the ground up.

Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing, you'll program, set up, and run multi-axis mills and lathes to deliver tight-tolerance, high-value flight and ground hardware, and help define how our machine shop operates. You'll work directly with design and manufacturing engineers to shape designs before release and provide early and ongoing design-for-manufacturability (DFM) feedback that reduces cost, shortens production time, and improves manufacturability. This role is ideal for someone who takes ownership of hardware delivery, troubleshoots independently, and gives clear, actionable technical feedback.

This is a full-time, on-site role in Kent, Washington, within Production Engineering.

Responsibilities

- Create, edit, and optimize CNC programs in Siemens NX CAM for 3-, 4-, and 5-axis milling and multi-tasking turning.

- Read, interpret, and hand-edit G-code at the control; build and apply probing, setup, and tool-compensation macros (e.g., Renishaw).

- Select cutting tools, toolpaths, and speeds and feeds to balance cycle time, tool life, and surface finish across aerospace alloys.

- Set up, prove out, and operate CNC mills and lathes, plus manual machines and EDM as needed, from raw stock, castings, and weldments.

- Plan jobs cradle-to-grave: machine and material selection, operation sequence, workholding, and outside processing (heat treat, plating, coating, grinding).

- Design and build fixtures, jigs, and soft jaws; coordinate tooling needs and support new equipment installation and commissioning.

- Handle quick-turn, first-run prototype work and recurring production, troubleshooting independently when things go sideways.

- Inspect in-process and finished parts with precision gauges and height gauges; report as-built dimensions and nonconformances.

- Interpret engineering models, drawings, and specifications, applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5.

- Participate in early design and process reviews and give engineers and designers clear, actionable DFM feedback on tolerances, features, materials, and setups.

- Work directly with design engineers to take prototypes from concept to finished part and to define production-ready approaches.

- Review existing part processes with engineering to improve efficiency, quality, and cost, and document best practices for the shop.

- Deburr and finish parts to requirement and maintain a clean, safe, organized work area.

- Mentor junior machinists on programming, setup, and process planning; drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Basic Qualifications

- 13+ years of professional experience setting up and operating CNC mills and/or lathes.

- 5+ years of CNC programming experience, including CAM programming and reading/editing G-code.

- Ability to interpret engineering models, drawings, and GD&T.

- Experience selecting cutting tools and designing work holding.

- High school diploma or GED, or related vocational/technical education.

- Strong written and verbal communication; able to give constructive technical feedback to engineers.

- Ability to lift up to 40 lb and stand for extended periods.

Preferred Qualifications

- 15+ years of CNC machining experience, with 5-axis and multi-tasking (mill-turn) experience.

- Advanced proficiency in Siemens NX CAM, including multi-axis toolpath programming.

- Experience setting up and running Mazak, DMG MORI, Okuma, Fanuc, Haas, or similar machines and controls; Renishaw probing and macro programming.

- Aerospace hardware experience machining nickel superalloys (e.g., Inconel), stainless steels, titanium, and copper alloys.

- Tooling and fixture design experience; familiarity with…