Senior Electrical Engineer, Avionics

Socket.dev; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 145,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock option eligibility

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Job summary

Katalyst seeks a senior avionics electrical engineer to own architecture and implement hardware for upgrade modules and spacecraft systems. You’ll design processors, power interfaces, and sensors, and drive integration across flight software, GNC, and payload teams.

Excellent hands-on lab skills, deep analog/digital expertise, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field.
• 5–8 years of experience designing complex electrical or avionics hardware for critical systems.
• Ownership of avionics/embedded electronics from architecture through bring-up and qualification.
• Strong analog/digital circuit design fundamentals and hardware debugging skills.
• Hands-on use of lab equipment (oscilloscopes, analyzers, power supplies, DAQ).
• Excellent technical communication and cross-team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own flight avionics architecture and deep electrical design for upgrade modules.
• Design and release spacecraft electronics including processors, power, sensors, and interfaces.
• Develop schematics, define interfaces, grounding, and board-level requirements; coordinate with PCB/layout teams.
• Drive avionics integration across flight software, GNC, power, comms, and payload systems; resolve issues.
• Plan bring-up, functional tests, EMI/EMC tests, hardware-in-the-loop tests, and integration.
• Perform worst-case analysis, power integrity, timing, derating, and radiation-aware part selection.
• Create engineering documentation and participate in design reviews and flight readiness.

Skills

Analog/digital design

Embedded processors/FPGAs

Power electronics interfaces

High-speed serial communications

Hardware debugging

Technical communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Power supplies

Electronic loads

DAQ equipment

Job 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.

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.
• Experience leading or supporting major reviews such as PDR, CDR, TRR, and FRR.

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 $145,000 - $180,000 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.

• long-term incentives, in the form of the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan
• relocation bonus
• other discretionary bonuses
• comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• unlimited Paid Time Off

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.