Head of Talent Acquisition

About Cowboy Space Corporation

Cowboy Space Corporation is pioneering infrastructure to enable and interconnect the orbital economy. Operating satellites in Low Earth Orbit, the company harnesses solar energy to fuel on-orbit computing, deliver energy through infrared lasers both space-to-earth and space-to-space, and provide secure high-bandwidth optical data transmission. By revolutionizing energy and data generation and distribution in space, Cowboy Space Corp. is unlocking novel operational possibilities in orbit and on Earth.

Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, Cowboy Space Corp. is supported by prominent investors and staffed by aerospace and defense industry veterans. The company is rapidly advancing to tackle complex technical challenges and establish a unique space infrastructure category.

Role Overview

The Head of Talent Acquisition will have full operational responsibility for the company’s recruiting function during a phase of rapid growth. This is a hands-on leadership role combining recruitment execution, process oversight, analytics, and team and vendor management across all departments including engineering, manufacturing, operations, and business functions. Reporting to the Head of People, the role involves leading daily TA operations, supporting crucial hires, scaling recruiting infrastructure, and enhancing internal talent sourcing capabilities. The position can be based in San Carlos, CA or Seattle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment for technical, manufacturing, operational, executive, and business roles, managing an active requisition load and focusing on high-priority hires.
• Direct executive and senior leadership recruitment across diverse functions, partnering closely with leadership and hiring managers to clarify hiring needs in ambiguous situations, align requirements and interview standards, and prioritize hires aligned with company milestones.
• Enhance hiring decision quality and interview process rigor, ensuring accountability and confidentiality, especially in executive searches.
• Build and maintain recruiting infrastructure including ATS workflows, interview calibration, funnel tracking, metrics dashboards, process documentation, and feedback mechanisms.
• Design scalable hiring and operational processes that accommodate rapid growth while streamlining quality, consistency, and candidate experience.
• Oversee recruiting analytics and reporting frameworks to provide leadership visibility on hiring progress, bottlenecks, capacity, and operational risks, using data to drive hiring accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage, develop, and scale the recruiting team along with external agency relationships, ensuring performance standards and fostering internal recruiting capabilities.
• Drive proactive sourcing using LinkedIn, referrals, technical networks, and creative outreach especially targeting non-traditional talent pools relevant to aerospace, defense, manufacturing, energy, robotics, and deep-tech fields.
• Conduct technical screening interviews assessing candidates’ depth, ownership mentality, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit for a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in recruiting and talent acquisition with substantial technical recruitment expertise.
• Demonstrated success sourcing and hiring for aerospace, defense, manufacturing, robotics, hardware, energy, or comparable deep-tech sectors.
• Proven track record leading executive and senior-level recruitment in rapidly scaling or technically complex organizations.
• Strong ability to source passive technical talent and utilize data-driven recruiting analytics and reporting to improve hiring outcomes.
• Experience building or refining recruiting operations, systems, and processes within startup or high-growth companies.
• Leadership experience managing recruiting teams and external agency/vendor partnerships.
• Excellent analytical, operational, written, and verbal communication skills, with experience interacting credibly with technical and executive stakeholders.
• Adaptability to ambiguous environments with evolving priorities, high ownership, and strong organizational skills.
• Startup experience (Seed to Series C) is highly preferred along with proficiency in ATS management, funnel optimization, and hiring process design.

Compensation and Benefits

The role offers an annual salary range between $184,226 and $214,231, determined by the candidate’s skills, experience, qualifications, and company equity. Additional benefits include:

• Equity ownership in Cowboy Space Corporation
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off plus 10 paid holidays annually
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation support when applicable
• Daily office lunches and stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Compliance and Equal Opportunity

Applicants must meet U.S. export control laws, including ITAR requirements, mandating U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, protected individual status, or eligibility for relevant government authorizations.

Cowboy Space Corp. prioritizes equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, origin, disabilities, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), veteran or military status, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, or other protected categories under federal, state, or local laws.

Additional Details

This job description summarizes essential duties and is subject to company discretion and modification.