Software Engineer, Ground Software

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 

• Review and understand current Ground software stack
• Understand the needs of other teams within Katalyst, and translate this to Ground Software requirements and functionality
• Identify gaps in current Ground Software features
• Identify and reduce technical debt in Ground Software
• Help maintain high coding standards through your own code and actively reviewing merge requests

What you will own in the next 30 days: 

• Become an owner of a part of the Ground Software stack
• Integrate Ground Software into other parts of the company
• Help enforce and improve culture around code quality and standards
• Be an advocate and example of testing and integrating work into other areas in the company
• Help give technical expertise to fill out user stories and epics

What We Value:

• System level thinker understanding cloud based scalable micro service systems
• Strong desire to build and design something from the ground up
• Able to understand and communicate customer needs into actionable items
• Someone who strives for clarity and understanding, but can make do without perfect requirements
• An operations first developer
• A strong executor and someone that excels in producing valuable and reliable code
• A passion for automation and creating systems that streamline operations
• An innovative approach to the challenges of ground software, mission operations and remote sensing and command-and-control
• Reliability-first mindset

Your Ideal Background:

Required:

• 3-8 years of experience with cloud based scalable micro service architecture
• Experience with owning  services in production environments
• Willingness to support mission critical services
• Deep technical fluency in cloud, backend, frontend, and streaming systems
• Technical fluency in Python, Rust or Typescript
• Experience with Docker and AWS managed services
• Familiarity working with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure proper feature creation and execution
• Minimum bachelor’s degree in computer science or other related STEM fields

Preferred: 

• Master’s degree in computer science or other related STEM fields
• Experience with owning high reliability production environments
• Experience supporting mission critical services
• Technical fluency in some of the following:
  • Orchestration (Kubernetes)
  • Databases (MongoDB, InfluxDB or other time-series)
  • Pub-sub/caching (Redis, Valkey)
  • Infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, Pulumi)
  • Satellite domain standards (CCSDS, XTCE)

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 $120,000 - $165,000 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.

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.