Senior Space Systems Engineer Verified today
About Katalyst
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 a future where maneuvering, upgrading, refueling, resupply and exploration are as routine as they are on Earth. 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.
The Role
As a Senior Space Systems Engineer, you'll play a key role in developing cohesive system architectures and ensuring the effective integration of spacecraft subsystems to meet mission objectives. This is a hands-on engineering role focused on the engineering of space systems, with deep understanding of how complex subsystems interact and impact overall system performance.
What You'll Do
- Oversee and perform system-wide architecture design, ensuring subsystems function cohesively and meet overarching system goals
- Lead detailed technical efforts and spearhead trade studies of space system architectures
- Identify and address gaps between requirements and top-level objectives, constraining broad problems and decomposing them into actionable tasks to implement solutions
- Support the sourcing and selection of key suppliers, components, and technologies
- Integrate spacecraft components, ensuring cohesive system functionality and compatibility across all subsystems
- Define Key Performance Parameters, select quantifiable metrics, and determine modeling approaches to directly address and answer key design questions in physics-based modeling and simulation efforts
- Lead small multi-discipline teams on spacecraft design, space mission design, and R&D projects
- Assist proposal capture efforts, including private/public, DoD, OGA, and other commercial partnerships
- Conduct comprehensive system analyses, including risk assessments, reliability analyses, and trade studies to optimize system performance
- Participate in design reviews, ensuring that designs meet mission requirements, are feasible, and incorporate best practices
- Support hardware-in-the-loop testing to validate integrated system performance in simulated operational environments
- Provide technical guidance to junior engineers
Your Background
Required
- Bachelor's degree in a technical engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience working on satellite systems with direct involvement in flight programs and the entire Validation and Verification chain
- Ability to define and lay out solutions to ambiguous problems
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction
- Expertise in the space environment, commercial space operations, and/or robotics
Preferred
- Direct involvement in flight operations or launch campaign
- Hardware Validation and Verification experience