Senior Embedded Systems Engineer

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 

• Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded software for microcontroller- and processor-based systems. 

• Develop production-quality firmware in C and C++ for bare-metal and RTOS-based applications. 

• Develop Python-based tools for test automation, hardware interfacing, data processing, debugging, and engineering workflows. 

• Develop and integrate low-level drivers for interfaces and peripherals including SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, ADC, PWM, GPIO, timers, watchdogs, and other hardware peripherals. 

• Work closely with electrical engineers during board bring-up, hardware integration, and troubleshooting. 

• Debug complex hardware/software issues using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/Develop software for real-time monitoring, control, telemetry, command processing, and system health management. 

• Perform design reviews, code reviews, and technical peer reviews. 

• Develop unit, integration, hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop and system-level tests. 

• Perform hands-on hardware integration and assembly tasks as needed, including soldering, cable and harness fabrication, connector assembly, mechanical assembly, and hardware rework. 

What We’re Looking For 

Required 

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

• 5+ years of professional embedded systems or embedded software development experience. 

• Strong proficiency in C++ and python. 

• Strong understanding of microcontroller architecture, memory-mapped peripherals, interrupts, timers, DMA, memory management, and embedded communication interfaces. 

• Experience with embedded communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, or similar interfaces. 

• Experience performing board bring-up and debugging hardware/software integration issues. 

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

• Proficiency with Git or another modern version-control system. 

• Experience writing unit tests and developing automated software tests. 

Your Ideal Background 

Preferred  

• Experience developing embedded software for spacecraft or other mission-critical systems through qualification and operational deployment. 

• Experience with bootloaders, firmware update mechanisms, nonvolatile memory, and over-the-air software updates. 

• Experience with fault-tolerant embedded systems, including FDIR, watchdogs, redundancy, and safe-state behavior. 

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