Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer

Katalyst Description: We build robotic spacecraft that enable dynamic space operations, creating a future where maneuvering, upgrading, refueling, 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 activity 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. Role Description: Our technology hinges on flawless execution of rendezvous, proximity operations and docking (RPOD) and stands at the intersection of Space Domain Awareness (SDA), robotics, and in-space upgrades. Complex algorithms are essential to unlocking this vision. This is the domain of GNC Engineers. You’ll primarily focus on the design, build, test, analysis and in orbit operation of the GNC system central to our rendezvous and proximity operations spacecraft and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) products. If you have a background expertise in a relevant domain such as orbital mechanics, optimal control, spacecraft systems design, sensor fusion and navigation, and/or software development and you’re excited about making a big impact while leaning into collaboration—surrounded by Flagstaff’s Ponderosa pines or the Denver Rockies—we’d love to hear from you! Key Responsibilities: Architecture and Investigation Architect solutions necessary to accomplish space mission objectives around space domain awareness and RPOD with an emphasis on autonomy, from both a hardware and software perspective. Evaluate and select appropriate techniques to achieve mission such as machine learning methods, physics-informed solutions, stochastic methods, Kalman Filters, etc. Assist in proposal capture efforts with feasibility analysis and engage with private/public partners, Department of Defense, Other Government Agencies, and other commercial partnerships. Architecture Design Develop architecture, lead trade studies and lead GNC team from conceptualization to flight for RPOD missions Design algorithms, simulations, and tools for orbit determination, state estimation, uncertainty propagation to support SDA efforts Analyze and source datasets for training and validation or algorithm performance. Build and test modeling and simulation tools for orbital/cislunar dynamics, sensor modeling, and visualization. Six degree of freedom modeling, simulation and validation of space craft dynamics, sensors and algorithms, including for RPOD missions. Implementation Collaborate with the software and GNC teams to implement algorithm in flight software. Heavily support hardware-in-the-loop testing for integrated system validation. Design concepts of operations (CONOPS) that balance thermal, power, momentum and communications for spacecraft missions. Provide mission operations training and support. Qualifications: Required: Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline 5+ years of experience working in guidance, navigation, and control Software development experience in Python Experience developing, debugging, and deploying GNC sensors, effectors and algorithms that have been used in real world applications/projects Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere Proven ability to lead a project from conception to completion Desired: Experience with cradle-to-grav ... (truncated, view full listing at source)