Software Developer, Full-Stack Space Applications

Katalyst Description:

At Katalyst, we see human expansion into space not as a distant future, but as a present reality. As this growth accelerates, the need for advanced, reliable spacecraft has never been more critical.  We are standing at this forefront specializing in rendezvous and proximity operations creating spacecraft that can reconfigure, refuel, inspect and protect satellites on orbit rapidly, routinely, and regularly. In order to accomplish our mission, we also process data from a network of space-based sensors, both existing and deployable upgrades, using state of the art machine learning and advanced orbital dynamic filtering algorithms to increase space domain awareness, becoming the eyes and ears on orbit.

You might be a great fit for our team if you want to:

• Accelerate your growth—skip the corporate ladder and forge your own path.
• Embrace challenges and ambiguity; both failure and success are steps to solutions.
• Tackle the toughest problems in the space industry and reshape its future, working side by side on a team that’s bought into the mission.

Role Description:

Our technology vision relies on spacecraft that don’t just fly—they adapt, collaborate, and evolve. Central to realizing this vision is the software that enables intelligent, responsive, and autonomous systems in orbit. As a Software Engineer, you will help architect and develop the infrastructure and tooling that bring together machine learning models, scalable cloud systems, machine vision, and DevOps pipelines to power real-time space domain awareness. 

Your work will integrate perception, prediction, and control software into reconfigurable spacecraft platforms, enabling systems that can understand and respond to their orbital environment. From low-latency data processing to mission-critical UI tools, your contributions will directly support the autonomy needed for next-generation proximity operations and on-orbit servicing. 

If you’re ready to shape the future of software-defined space systems and thrive in a mission-driven, fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and implement software architecture across projects and teams.
• Own and improve CI/CD pipelines, DevOps workflows, and release processes.
• Support end-to-end integration of software components and ML models into production systems.
• Help manage and improve cloud infrastructure (primarily AWS), ensuring secure, scalable, and cost-efficient deployments.
• Maintain multi-container environments using Docker, docker-compose, and related tooling.
• Develop production code quality through peer reviews, automated testing, code style enforcement, and performance optimization.
• Contribute to the implementation of cloud-native workflows using AWS services like Lambda, Step Functions, ECS, etc.
• Support and occasionally develop full-stack components, including front-end features using React, TypeScript, and Next.js.
• Lead or support demonstrations with internal/external stakeholders through robust, presentable UI interfaces.
• Oversee internal IT operations related to GitLab, server configuration, certificates, and basic security practices. 

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in software development, including significant architecture/design responsibilities.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps best practices.
• Proficiency in designing and maintaining scalable cloud infrastructure, especially on AWS.
• Experience with Docker and container orchestration tools (e.g., docker-compose, ECS, or Kubernetes).
• Strong coding proficiency in Python.
• Experience leading code reviews, managing codebases, and mentoring development teams.
• Familiarity with GitLab administration and managing development tools/environments.
• Strong understanding of secure coding and deployment practices.
• Experience deploying software in high-side or secure environments.
• Experience working with different sensors and hardware for machine vision engineering. 

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.

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.