Principal Modeling and Simulations Engineer

Katalyst Space Technologies•Broomfield, CO

23d

About The Position

Katalyst builds robotic spacecraft for dynamic space operations, enabling activities like maneuvering, upgrading, and refueling to become routine. The company focuses on developing foundational capabilities for sustained, responsive operations in space, contributing to national security and freedom of action. The culture at Katalyst is described as intense, hands-on, and rewarding, with an emphasis on ownership, craftsmanship, and collaboration among driven teammates. This role involves understanding spacecraft architecture and missions, reviewing current model and simulation capabilities, identifying gaps, and creating a simulation architecture roadmap. The engineer will also train as an operator, establish frameworks for integrating hardware and software models with operational scenarios, define how digital twins integrate into physics-based simulations, and establish a concrete validation strategy.

Requirements

Systems level thinker understanding the crossroads of Physics, Software and Hardware
Ownership mindset serving as the technical authority across design and implementation
Ability to prioritize needs from multiple internal and external customers
Excels while operating in a fast-paced New Space environment
Strong desire to build and design something from the ground up
Someone willing to get dirty and produce code not just design
Passionate about creating a product that is used throughout the company
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics and astrodynamics
Experience modeling spacecraft dynamics, control systems, and environmental effects
Ability to design modular and extensible simulation architecture
Experience implementing physics-based simulations in Python and C++
Strong knowledge of numerical methods, time integration, and stability considerations
Experience building “universe-style” multi-body simulation environments
Ability to design simulations that support historical replay, real-time execution, and accelerated future-time scenarios
Experience with integrating simulations with GSW, FSW, AI&T, and HITL testing
Ability to design constellation level simulations
Experience designing event-driven or time-stepped simulation frameworks
Experience generating realistic synthetic telemetry
Strong V&V practices
10+ years of experience in modeling and simulation for complex aerospace missions
Deep understanding of physics engines or digital twins (subsystem/component models, dynamical systems, etc)
Experience developing for multiple internal stakeholders such as AI&T, GSW, MOPS, FSW, etc
BS in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or closely related STEM field
Deep knowledge in C++, Python, Basilisk (or similar Framework), Docker, K8, CI/CD

Nice To Haves

Proven ownership of the design and architecture of a multi-model and simulation system
Understanding of distributed simulation frameworks
Strong foundation in multiple subsystems such as GNC, Flight Dynamics, EPS, Propulsion, etc
Experience simulating 6-DOF relative motion and ROPD missions

Responsibilities

Understand spacecraft architecture and missions
Review current model and simulation capability
Identify any gaps in current simulation framework
Evaluate how simulation integrates with other teams within the company (GSW, FSW, AI&T, MOPS, etc.)
Train as an operator to prepare for upcoming mission
Identify gaps from assessment and create the simulation architecture roadmap
Identify required models (Spacecraft subsystem, environment, GNC, etc.)
Establish a framework that defines how hardware models, software models, and operational scenarios interact within the simulation environment
Establish how the digital twin gets integrated into a physics based “universe sim”
Establish a concrete validation strategy