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 to real spacecraft engineering work in one of four technical tracks: Electrical, Mechanical, GNC, or Software, with assignments sized appropriately for an internship.
- Work alongside experienced engineers on scoped technical problems involving design, analysis, implementation, integration, test, simulation, debugging, or engineering documentation.
- Gain hands-on exposure to flight hardware, test equipment, software environments, simulations, engineering data, and the processes used to take spacecraft from concept through test and operations.
- Participate in design reviews, test activities, technical discussions, and team meetings; ask thoughtful questions and communicate progress, assumptions, risks, and blockers clearly.
- Collaborate across disciplines to understand how electrical, mechanical, software, controls, mission operations, and program constraints interact at the spacecraft level.
- Apply classroom fundamentals to real engineering decisions and compare models, calculations, code, or design intent against test results and practical constraints.
- Document analyses, code, drawings, procedures, test results, or technical decisions so the work can be reviewed and used by the broader team.
- Demonstrate increasing independence over the course of the internship while seeking feedback early and maintaining ownership of assigned work.
- Create repeatable capture and partnership mechanisms that allow Katalyst to scale national security business development without becoming dependent on informal relationships or individual heroics.
What We’re Looking For
Required
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Applied Math, Physics, or a closely related technical field.
- Strong academic foundation in the fundamentals relevant to the selected discipline and the ability to explain technical reasoning clearly.
- Demonstrated technical interest through coursework, laboratories, research, student teams, capstone work, personal projects, prior internships, or other hands-on experience.
- Ability to break down a technical problem, identify assumptions, ask useful questions, and make progress with guidance from more experienced engineers.
- Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to distinguish personal contributions from the work of a broader team.
- Curiosity and willingness to learn unfamiliar tools, systems, and technical domains quickly.
- Ability to collaborate effectively, receive direct technical feedback, and follow through reliably on commitments.
- Ability to comply with applicable export-control requirements and customer-access restrictions.
Your Ideal Background
Preferred
- Prior internship, co-op, research, student-team, or project experience in spacecraft, aerospace, robotics, autonomous systems, defense technology, high-reliability hardware, or another technically demanding environment.
- Experience designing, building, coding, analyzing, testing, or debugging something beyond normal classroom problem sets.
- Electrical track: exposure to circuits, embedded systems, PCB design, power electronics, sensors, test equipment, controls hardware, or hardware-in-the-loop environments.
- Mechanical track: exposure to CAD, mechanisms, structures, thermal or structural analysis, manufacturing, GD&T, test fixtures, or hardware integration.
- GNC track: exposure to dynamics, controls, estimation, navigation, orbital mechanics, simulation, MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or C/C++.
- Software track: exposure to C/C++, Python, Linux, embedded or real-time software, networking, testing, simulation, robotics, autonomy, or mission / ground software.
Additional Requirements: Must be available for the defined internship term and willing to work hands-on in the office, lab, integration, or test environment as required. Occasional extended hours may be needed during critical test or mission activities.
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.
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.