Electrical Engineer (EPS), Spacecraft

Katalyst Space Technologies; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 105,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Stock Option Plan

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Job summary

Katalyst Space Technologies in Broomfield, Colorado is seeking an Electrical Power System Engineer. The role focuses on designing and validating spacecraft power systems and interfaces, demanding 3+ years of relevant experience. Candidates should possess a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and strong skills in power electronics design. The position offers a salary range of $105,000 – $145,000 annually plus benefits including medical coverage and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience designing, testing, or integrating power electronics.
• Strong understanding of switch-mode power supply design.
• Experience designing or modifying schematics for power electronics.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design of Katalyst's spacecraft Electrical Power System.
• Support integrated testing of EPS hardware.
• Plan and execute stress and performance testing.

Skills

Power electronics design

PCB layout modification

Electrical engineering background

Hands-on testing experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

Altium

Job description

We build robotic spacecraft that enable dynamic space operations, creating a future where maneuvering, upgrading, refueling, 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 activity 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

• Contribute to the design, iteration, and qualification of Katalyst’s spacecraft Electrical Power System (EPS), including power conversion, power distribution, battery interface electronics, solar array interfaces, protection circuitry, and subsystem power interfaces.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent field.
• 3+ years of experience designing, testing, or integrating power electronics, spacecraft EPS hardware, battery/solar power interfaces, or closely related high‑reliability power systems.
• Strong understanding of switch‑mode power supply design, DC/ DC converter architectures, compensation/stability, magnetics selection, protection circuitry, and practical power electronics debugging.
• Experience designing or modifying schematics and PCB layouts for power electronics, including high‑current routing, grounding, thermal considerations, creepage/clearance, current sensing, and EMI/EMC‑aware layout practices.
• Proficiency in Altium or a similar ECAD tool for schematic capture, PCB layout review, design release, and documentation.
• Exposure to spacecraft or embedded‑system power architectures, including power distribution, load switching, battery management interfaces, solar array regulation, or power telemetry.
• Exposure to common digital communication standards (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, Ethernet) and mixed‑signal design best practices for telemetry, control, and power‑system interfaces.
• Hands‑on experience with hardware bring‑up, bench testing, and debugging using oscilloscopes, electronic loads, power supplies, DMMs, logic analyzers, and related lab equipment.
• Experience writing or executing test procedures, documenting results, and driving board‑ or component‑level troubleshooting through root cause and corrective action.
• 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

Your base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The anticipated salary range for this role is $105,000 – $145,000 annually.

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.

Legal & Compliance

Due to contractual requirements associated with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

EEO Statement

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.