Spacecraft Power Electronics Engineer

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. 

What You’ll Do 

1. Contribute to the design, iteration, and qualification ofKatalyst’s spacecraft Electrical Power System (EPS), including power conversion, power distribution, battery interface electronics, solar array interfaces, protection circuitry, and subsystem power interfaces. 
2. Design,modify, and review schematics, PCB layouts, interface definitions, and analysis packages for spacecraft power electronics, with emphasis on switch-mode power supplies, DC/DC converters, load switching, current sensing, fault protection, and EMI-aware layout practices. 
3. Support integrated operation of EPS hardware during functional, performance, and qualification testing, working directly with test engineers to execute bench, thermal vacuum, vibration, and other qualification test campaigns.
4. Help own integrated functional testing of EPS hardware with avionics, flight software, mechanisms, payloads, and other spacecraft subsystems, ensuring power interfaces behave correctly across nominal, off-nominal, and fault cases.
5. Plan and execute targeted stress, margin, and performance testing, exercising hardware across design extremes such as input voltage range, load transients, thermal limits, startup sequencing, fault response, and converter stability.
6. Help define design changes and architecture improvements for future spacecraft power systems, including EPS feature upgrades, power budget impacts, redundancy considerations, telemetry needs, and mission-specific power requirements.

Your Ideal Background

1. Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent field.
2. 3-5 years of experience designing, testing, or integrating power electronics, spacecraft EPS hardware, battery/solar power interfaces, or closely related high-reliability power systems.
3. Strong understanding of switch-mode power supply design, DC/DC converter architectures, compensation/stability, magneticsselection, protection circuitry, and practical power electronics debugging. 
4. Experience designing ormodifying schematics and PCB layouts for power electronics, including high-current routing, grounding, thermal considerations, creepage/clearance, current sensing, and EMI/EMC-aware layout practices. 
5. Proficiency in Altium or a similar ECAD tool for schematic capture, PCB layout review, design release, and documentation.
6. Exposure to spacecraft or embedded-system power architectures, including power distribution, load switching, battery management interfaces, solar array regulation, or power telemetry.
7. Exposure to common digital communication standards (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet) and mixed-signal design best practices for telemetry, control, and power-system interfaces.
8. Hands-on experience with hardware bring-up, bench testing, and debugging using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power supplies, DMMs, logic analyzers, and related lab equipment.
9. Experience writing or executing test procedures, documenting results, and driving board- or component-level troubleshooting through root cause and corrective action.
10. Experience integrating power electronics with other spacecraft or embedded subsystems; exposure to environmental testing such as thermal vacuum or vibration is a plus but not required. 

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

Compensation and Benefits:

At Katalyst, we believe our team should share in the value they help create. In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to participate in our Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan, providing the opportunity for long-term ownership in the company’s success.

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $105,000–$145,000 annually. Individual compensation is determined based on relevant experience, education, job-related knowledge and skills, and the responsibilities of the role.

Our benefits and perks include:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employee stock options and long-term equity incentives
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Unlimited paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance, when applicable
• Eligibility for discretionary bonuses
• Catered team lunch every Wednesday

Our total rewards package is designed to support your health, financial well-being, work-life balance, and long-term growth alongside Katalyst.

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.