Principal Electro-Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others - with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers - we’re mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today’s and tomorrow’s massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

Partnering with design engineers early on in the process, you will ensure manufacturability, build the first prototype, design the build flow and fixturing, and finalize the process for transition to production. You will test out new techniques for manufacturing large satellite structures, mechanisms, and integrated electronics systems. In your first 6 months you will own manufacturing development for integrated avionics systems; define production-ready build flows, capacity models, and tooling strategies; and drive cross-functional DFM improvements that materially reduce risk, cost, or cycle time. In your first year you will lead implementation of advanced manufacturing techniques on flight hardware and transition prototype processes into stable, rate-capable production systems.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end manufacturing strategy for subsystems from concept through production ramp

• Lead DFM efforts with design engineering, influencing architecture decisions to optimize for cost, quality, scalability and integration risk

• Architect scalable production flows for large spacecraft assemblies including electromechanical systems, harnessing, and mechanisms

• Develop and deploy advanced manufacturing technologies, automation concepts, and tooling systems to support increasing production rate

• Establish production readiness plans including control plans, work instructions, takt alignment, and line balancing

• Mentor and develop junior manufacturing engineers and technicians, raising the technical bar across the organization

• Lead first article builds and flight hardware integration, resolving complex cross-functional technical issues

• Develop capacity models and rate ramp strategies to support program growth

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and production robustness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline

• 10+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role

• Demonstrated results with product development and/or process improvements

• Experience leading first article builds and transitioning prototype processes into repeatable production

• Experience setting up and scaling production lines in a rapid development environment

• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive design changes for manufacturability

Nice to Have

• Experience designing tooling for mechanical subassemblies and electronics

• Demonstrated leadership of small engineering teams or technical ownership of major subsystems

• Deep familiarity with aerospace manufacturing standards (IPC soldering standards, torque/welding standards, quality systems, AS9100 environments)

• Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up including driving design improvements for manufacturing

• Strong working knowledge of CAD software (NX or equivalent) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)

• Experience working with MES to set up the foundation for procedure creation and documenting non-conformances

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $175,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company

• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

• Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.