Electrical Engineer - Avionics

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:

As an Electrical Engineer focused on Avionics development, you will play a key role in bringing spacecraft electronics to life. Working alongside our avionics team, you’ll be responsible for cradle-to-grave electronics development including concept design, schematic capture, PCB layout, hardware validation, and flight integration.

This is a hands-on role that requires proficiency across embedded hardware design and test. You’ll contribute to a wide range of microcontroller and FPGA based embedded electronics, ensuring seamless performance across flight-critical subsystems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, prototype, and test spacecraft avionics systems, including single-board computers, data acquisition hardware, motor controllers, and various mixed-signal systems.
• Employ industry standard development tools to simulate circuit-level designs, draft circuit schematics, and layout PCBs.
• Define and lead electronics verification and validation campaigns for your hardware designs.
• Derive functional, performance, and environmental requirements for your electronics designs from spacecraft system-level requirements.
• Develop fault-tolerant systems for autonomous operation in harsh space environments.
• Contribute to hardware-in-the-loop testing and support system validation through flight assembly and integration.
• Collaborate with software, GNC, and mechanical teams to ensure integrated mission performance.
• Assist in integration of low-level firmware and board bring-up for your designs.
• Contribute to design reviews and root-cause analysis of board-level and spacecraft-level issues.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (or in final year of study)
• 3+ years of electronics design experience in commercial, military, or space applications
• Strong circuit-level design skills with an emphasis on high-speed digital and mixed-signal architectures
• Hands-on experience with embedded systems that implement FPGAs or microcontrollers
• Experience with ECAD tools for schematic and PCB layout design (Altium familiarity is a plus)
• Familiarity with typical spacecraft data handling architectures and bus standard.
• Operating knowledge of spacecraft system fundamentals and space mission design
• Understanding of common microcontroller interfaces and peripheral protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO)
• Strong hardware debugging skills using standard lab tools (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, multimeter)
• Understanding of radiation effects on electronics and component selection for radiation reliability
• Ability to creatively utilize commercial, off the shelf (COTS) elements in space-qualifiable avionics designs
• Willingness to learn, take initiative, and work closely with cross-functional teams

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 $85,000 - $120,000 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.