Senior Spacecraft Power Systems Engineer

Katalyst Description:

At Katalyst, we see human expansion into space not as a distant future, but as a present reality. As this growth accelerates, the need for advanced, reliable spacecraft has never been more critical.  We are standing at this forefront specializing in rendezvous and proximity operations creating spacecraft that can reconfigure, refuel, inspect and protect satellites on orbit rapidly, routinely, and regularly. In order to accomplish our mission, we also process data from a network of space-based sensors, both existing and deployable upgrades, using state of the art machine learning and advanced orbital dynamic filtering algorithms to increase space domain awareness, becoming the eyes and ears on orbit.

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 vision relies on spacecraft that don’t just fly—they adapt, collaborate, and evolve. At the center of this capability is the avionics system: a digital nervous system for orbital robotics, proximity operations, and autonomous servicing.

As a Spacecraft Power Systems Engineer, you will lead the development of high-reliability, high-efficiency power electronics and embedded systems that drive our spacecraft's reconfigurability. From low-level hardware design to spacecraft-wide power architecture, you will engineer the foundation on which orbital autonomy is built.

Join a team of driven engineers, work side-by-side with experts in orbital mechanics, robotics, and GNC, and take on challenges that will push the boundaries of what’s possible in the space domain. If you’re ready to contribute to the next generation of on-orbit servicing and upgrade technologies, and you thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments surrounded by Flagstaff’s Ponderosa pines or the Denver Rockies, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, prototype, and test spacecraft avionics and power systems, including power distribution units, converters, and battery management systems.
• Employ industry standard development tools to simulate circuit-level designs, draft circuit schematics, and layout PCBs.
• Lead electrical architecture for all spacecraft power systems and their interactions with other spacecraft subsystem.
• Define and lead electronics verification and validation campaigns for your hardware designs.
• Derive functional, performance, and environmental requirements for power system element from spacecraft system-level requirements and Day in the Life (DITL) power analysis.
• Develop fault-tolerant systems for autonomous operation in harsh space environments.
• Collaborate with software, GNC, and mechanical teams to ensure integrated mission performance.
• Contribute to hardware-in-the-loop testing and support system validation through flight assembly and integration.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, or equivalent field
• Strong grasp of DC-DC topologies, with ability to select optimal architectures and components
• Experience in modeling, simulation, and test of power electronics
• Strong understanding of analog circuit fundamentals
• Experience with ECAD tools for schematic and PCB layout design (Altium familiarity is a plus)
• Experience with power supply testing and packaging for harsh thermal environments
• Understanding of with radiation effects on electronics and component selection for radiation reliability
• Operating knowledge of spacecraft system fundamentals and space mission design
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft data handling architectures and bus standard.
• Understanding of design for fault tolerance and reliability

Additional Requirements:

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

Compensation and Benefits:  

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. The anticipated salary range for this role is $140,000 - $180,000 annually

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.