Real-Time Software Engineer

Katalyst Description:

At Katalyst we believe satellite owners and operators shouldn’t be stuck with outdated capabilities as they try to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. We are building the Upgrade Economy where satellites are reconfigured on orbit rapidly, routinely, and regularly. We do this by adding new capabilities to satellites post-launch with in-space servicing, unlocking the ability to respond quickly in an unpredictable environment, open new revenue streams, and dispose of the single-use model. 

You might be a great fit for our team if you want to:

• Accelerate your growth—skip the corporate ladder and forge your own path.
• Embrace challenges and ambiguity; both failure and success are steps to solutions.
• Tackle the toughest problems in the space industry and reshape its future, working side by side on a team that’s bought into the mission.

Role Description:

Our technology stands at the intersection of Space Domain Awareness (SDA), robotics, and in-space upgrades—core capabilities enabling the Upgrade Economy. Complex, high-performance software is essential to unlocking this vision. This is the domain of Real-Time Software Engineers.

You’ll primarily focus on the design, development, and validation of real-time software systems that power our upgrades. Your work will involve implementing established architectures and algorithms into real-time software for sensor data processing and command and control in dynamic and constrained environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Transition and implement functional algorithm designs in space domain awareness into real-time software environments with considerations for computation efficiency, data processing, and communications
• Develop scheduling and planning schemes for data acquisition, preprocessing, and downlink pipelines for real-time mission management
• Deploy software in real-time Linux flight software environments
• Provide ongoing support during the mission, troubleshooting and optimizing payload performance as needed.
• Design and execute hardware-in-the-loop testing of real-time software on flight representative and flight hardware
• Maintain DevOps framework for project team

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline
• 3-5+ years of demonstrated applicable experience in embedded software development
• Proficiency in Python and C++
• Experience developing, debugging, and deploying software that has been used in real world applications/projects
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Familiarity with technologies and protocols such as: CAN-bus architectures, Linux environments, CubeSat Space Protocol, Free-RTOS, Arm-based processor architectures

Desired:

• Experience in spacecraft command and control and mission management
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

Additional Requirements:

Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

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.

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.