Senior Electrical Engineer, Avionics

Employer description

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.

Katalyst 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.  Oh, and we're dog friendly!  

Benefits:

• Stock options & equity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k)
• Unlimited PTO
• Catered lunches

What You’ll Do 

• Own flight avionics architecture and detailed electrical design for upgrade modules from concept through qualification, integration, launch, and on-orbit operations. 

• Design, analyze, and release spacecraft electronics including processor/compute boards, power conversion and distribution interfaces, sensor/actuator interfaces, communications interfaces, and supporting analog/digital circuitry. 

• Develop electrical schematics, component selections, interface definitions, grounding/bonding approaches, and board-level requirements; partner with PCB layout and manufacturing through build and bring-up. 

• Drive avionics integration across flight software, GNC, power, communications, propulsion, robotics, and payload systems, resolving electrical and data-interface issues at the spacecraft level. 

• Plan and execute board bring-up, functional test, environmental qualification, EMI/EMC testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and spacecraft-level integration; lead anomaly investigation and root-cause closure. 

• Perform and review worst-case circuit analysis, power and signal integrity analysis, timing/bus analysis, derating, reliability assessments, and radiation-informed part selection appropriate to mission needs. 

• Create high-quality engineering documentation and technical baselines, and contribute to major design reviews and flight readiness decisions. 

What We’re Looking For 

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline. 

• 5-8 years of experience designing and delivering complex electrical or avionics hardware for spacecraft, aerospace, defense, robotics, or other mission-critical systems. 

• Demonstrated ownership of avionics or embedded electronics from architecture and schematic design through bring-up, integration, verification, and qualification. 

• Strong fundamentals in analog and digital circuit design, embedded processors/FPGAs, power electronics interfaces, high-speed/serial communications, and hardware debugging. 

• Hands-on proficiency with laboratory equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, electronic loads, and data acquisition equipment. 

• Strong technical communication skills and the ability to work effectively across hardware, software, systems, manufacturing, and program teams. 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment where ownership, initiative, and sound engineering judgment are essential. 

Your Ideal Background 

Preferred  

• Experience developing spacecraft avionics through flight qualification and operational deployment. 

• Experience with radiation effects, component derating, reliability, fault tolerance, redundancy, and single-event-effect mitigation for space electronics. 

• Experience with common spacecraft interfaces and buses such as CAN, SpaceWire, RS-422/485, Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART, and discrete I/O. 

• Experience with EMI/EMC design and test, grounding/bonding, harness/interface design, and spacecraft electrical integration. 

• Experience with ECAD tools and configuration-controlled release processes; familiarity with PCB layout constraints, manufacturing, and acceptance testing. 

<li data-leveltext="·" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="23" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":&...