Recent Graduate - Software Engineer I

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

• Contribute directly to the design, development, integration, test, and operation of spacecraft software, including flight software, embedded and real-time systems, autonomy, simulation, mission software, and ground systems.

• Own well-scoped software engineering problems from requirements and architecture through implementation, unit and integration testing, debugging, documentation, deployment, and closure with support from senior engineers.

• Work hands-on with flight and embedded software, Linux environments, C/C++ and Python codebases, simulators, hardware-in-the-loop systems, networking, telemetry, logs, test infrastructure, and real spacecraft interfaces rather than operating only at the documentation layer.

• Participate in design and code reviews, software integration, simulation campaigns, hardware-in-the-loop testing, anomaly investigations, mission-readiness activities, and operational support; communicate software behavior, risks, assumptions, and decisions clearly.

• Collaborate across GNC, electrical, mechanical, propulsion, systems, mission operations, and test teams to understand software interfaces and system-level impacts on spacecraft behavior and mission performance.

• Build engineering judgment by comparing expected software behavior, simulations, interface assumptions, timing, telemetry, and test results against hardware-in-the-loop, integration, and operational data, identifying discrepancies, and iterating toward reliable mission software.

• Document requirements, assumptions, interfaces, architecture, code behavior, test results, procedures, and technical decisions so others can review, reproduce, maintain, test, and integrate the work.

• Take increasing ownership as technical capability grows, progressing from supervised implementation and test tasks toward independent...