---
title: 'Engineering Intern (Electrical / Mechanical / GNC / Software) at Katalyst Space Technologies'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/engineering-intern-electrical-mechanical-gnc-software-katalyst-space-44egmjhc8sy3'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Engineering Intern (Electrical / Mechanical / GNC / Software) at Katalyst Space Technologies

- **Company:** Katalyst Space Technologies
- **Location:** Broomfield Colorado, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-08-31
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/katalyst/jobs/6176711004

## Job description

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.

## About Katalyst Space Technologies

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Katalyst Space Technologies builds robotic spacecraft and modular payloads for in‑orbit servicing, satellite upgrades, and space domain awareness.
- **Entity Type**: Private (raised $12M in June 2026)
- **Headquarters**: Flagstaff, Arizona, United States (additional offices in Broomfield, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.)
- **Founded**: 2019
- **Founders**: Ghonhee Lee, Nicholas Liapis, Kaleb Beebout, Vanessa Clark (joined via acquisition of Atomos Space)

## Core Business
- **Primary industries**: In‑orbit servicing & assembly, space transportation & logistics, space domain awareness.
- **Target customers**: Government agencies, defense organizations, commercial satellite operators (MEO, GEO, XGEO / Cislunar markets).
- **Mission**: To make in‑space operations routine and break the long cycle times, rigid architectures, and inflexibility that dominate the satellite industry.

## Products & Services
- **NEXUS**: A multi‑mission robotic spacecraft with a patented Split Stewart Platform for grappling, docking, and servicing spacecraft not originally designed for docking. Includes full sensor suite for rendezvous and proximity operations, large solar arrays, and enough delta‑V to reach the Moon and back without refueling.
- **SIGHT**: Real‑time space domain awareness (SDA) system for orbital hazard identification, collision avoidance, and independent power, comms, and data processing.
- **SHIELD**: Defensive counterspace capability for anomaly inspection, close‑range imaging, and defensive maneuvers.
- **Hardware Payload Bays**: Two payload bays for transporting and installing mission hardware upgrades on unprepared satellites.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of $12M (June 2026), including a seed round of $880,635 (May 2024)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly listed; acquired Atomos Space (April 2025) and Atomos Nuclear and Space Corporation.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 111% YoY to ~49 employees; opened offices in Broomfield, CO and Washington, D.C.; Katalyst’s LINK robotic spacecraft integrated with Pegasus XL and ready for launch (June 2026); NEXUS passed a key testing milestone ahead of a first‑of‑its‑kind GEO servicing demo mission (May 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Patented Split Stewart Platform** – a lighter, stiffer robotic arm system that can grapple a wide range of structures, including satellites not designed for docking.
- **Full‑stack validation** – tests sensors, software, actuators, propulsion, and robotics at a state‑of‑the‑art testbed, not just simulation.
- **Ability to upgrade unprepared satellites** – delivers hardware on mission‑relevant timelines, bypassing 10+ year design cycles.
- **High delta‑V propulsion** – enables LEO‑to‑Moon round trips without refueling.

## Strategic Focus
- First‑of‑its‑kind GEO servicing demonstration mission for 2026–2027.
- Scaling the NEXUS spacecraft platform across multiple mission types (servicing, refueling, inspection, defense).
- Deepening government and defense partnerships for space domain awareness and counterspace capabilities.
- Expanding the team (13 active job postings) and operational footprint to support growing mission cadence.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Demanding, fast‑moving, hands‑on environment where employees own real problems from concept through flight. Emphasizes craftsmanship, humility, and doing things right even when difficult.
- **Work model**: Likely on‑site at one of three offices (Flagstaff, Broomfield, Washington D.C.); some roles may offer hybrid flexibility.
- **Benefits**: Competitive compensation plus equity, medical/dental/vision insurance, flexible time off, meaningful ownership from day one.
- **Engineering culture**: Deep focus on spacecraft design, GNC, flight software, and robotics; heavy background from Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Atomos Space, and Amazon. Active recruiting for senior and principal engineers.

## Sources
1. [katalystspace.com](https://www.katalystspace.com/)
2. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/katalyst-space)
3. [spaceindex.io](https://spaceindex.io/companies/katalyst-space-technologies)
4. [job-boards.greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/katalyst)

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