Katalyst
Description
Katalyst is an American technology company focused on dynamic space operations. We are building a fleet of dual-use multipurpose robotic space vehicles to create the future where maneuvering, upgrading, refueling, resupply and exploration are as routine as they are on Earth. Getting to space and overcoming the gravity well is only half the story. What you do there is the future. We are not building the trains. We are building the machines that lay down the tracks. By developing the foundational capabilities that make sustained, responsive operations possible, we enable a new era of space exploration that strengthens national security and ensures freedom of action in an increasingly contested domain.
Culture
Working at Katalyst is intense, hands-on, and deeply rewarding. You'll take real ownership and see your work move from concept to operations in an environment where the problems are hard and the impact is real. We value humility, craftsmanship, and doing things the right way, even when it's harder. You'll work closely with thoughtful, driven teammates who push each other to do their best.
What You'll Do
- Contribute directly to the design, analysis, development, integration, test, and operation of spacecraft electrical and avionics systems, including power, embedded electronics, sensors, interfaces, and flight hardware.
- Own well-scoped electrical engineering problems from requirements and concept development through schematic design, component selection, analysis, PCB or harness interface definition, integration, test, documentation, and closure with support from senior engineers.
- Work hands-on with schematics, boards, flight hardware, sensors, harnesses, bench equipment, oscilloscopes, power supplies, logic analyzers, simulation tools, and hardware-in-the-loop environments rather than operating only at the analysis or documentation layer.
- Participate in design reviews, board bring-up, hardware builds, integration activities, test campaigns, anomaly investigations, and mission-readiness activities; communicate electrical performance, risks, assumptions, and decisions clearly.
- Collaborate across mechanical, GNC, propulsion, software, systems, manufacturing, and mission operations to understand electrical interfaces and system-level impacts on spacecraft performance.
- Build engineering judgment by comparing circuit calculations, simulations, power budgets, signal expectations, and interface assumptions against bench, integration, and hardware data, identifying discrepancies, and iterating toward reliable flight hardware.
- Document requirements, assumptions, interfaces, calculations, schematics, component selections, analyses, test results, procedures, and technical decisions so others can review, reproduce, build, and integrate the work.
- Take increasing ownership as technical capability grows, progressing from supervised design and analysis tasks toward independent circuit-, board-, interface-, or subsystem-level responsibility.
- Support spacecraft mission execution by helping translate mission objectives and constraints into credible electrical designs, analyses, hardware interfaces, integration plans, test approaches, and operational recommendations.
What We're Looking For
Required
- Bachelor's degree completed, or expected before start date, in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related technical field.
- Strong academic or project-based grounding in circuits, electronics, digital and analog systems, embedded systems, power electronics, signals, sensors, or related electrical engineering fundamentals, with the ability to explain technical reasoning from first principles.
- Demonstrated hands-on electrical engineering experience through internships, research, student spacecraft or robotics teams, capstone projects, personal projects, laboratories, board bring-up, electronics assembly, or prior employment.
- Ability to break down ambiguous electrical problems, identify assumptions and interfaces, build appropriate models, make reasonable design tradeoffs, and validate work through calculation, simulation, bench test, hardware-in-the-loop, or data.
- Clear written and verbal technical communication, including the ability to explain what was personally designed, analyzed, wired, assembled, integrated, tested, or debugged versus what was completed by a team.
- Comfort learning new spacecraft electrical hardware, components, interfaces, embedded systems, test methods, analysis tools, and mission concepts quickly in an environment where responsibilities may evolve with program needs.
- Ability to collaborate closely with mechanical, GNC, propulsion, software, systems, manufacturing, and mission-operations engineers and accept direct technical feedback without losing ownership of the problem.
- Ability to comply with applicable export-control requirements and customer-access restrictions.
Your Ideal Background
Preferred
- Internship, research, co-op, or project experience in spacecraft, aerospace, robotics, avionics, power electronics, embedded systems, defense technology, high-reliability hardware, or another electrically demanding environment.
- Experience taking a circuit, board, electrical assembly, embedded hardware interface, or power subsystem from concept and design into build, bring-up, integration, or test and using the results to drive changes.
- Exposure to circuit design, embedded systems, power electronics, PCB development, sensors, test equipment, hardware-in-the-loop environments, electrical integration, or electrical testing.
Additional Requirements
Must be willing to work hands-on in the office, lab, integration, or test environment as required and to support occasional extended hours during critical test or mission activities.
Compensation and Benefits
Your base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The anticipated salary range for this role is $80,000 - $105,000 annually. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Katalyst. You will also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan, as well as a relocation bonus and other discretionary bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, and unlimited Paid Time Off.
At Katalyst our work on projects involving the U.S. Department of Defense requires adherence to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130, which requires compliance with U.S. export laws before allowing employees to perform certain positions. Currently, our available roles necessitate access to ITAR-controlled information, and as a result, Katalyst would have to ensure any non-US person is authorized access to ITAR information before the commencement of employment.
We are committed to equal employment opportunities and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.