Senior Hardware Reliability 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

You will own the development and execution of reliability strategies that enable our spacecraft to meet ambitious vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability. You will define reliability requirements, build and apply advanced semi-empirical modeling techniques, and drive testing programs that identify and mitigate risks early in development. This role sits at the intersection of design, test, systems, and manufacturing, where you will integrate reliability models with program risk management and flow down clear, actionable requirements across subsystems. You will lead root cause investigations on critical hardware issues and play a key role in evolving K2’s reliability strategy as we scale toward high-volume satellite production. The ideal candidate is a technically strong, hands-on engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and is excited to build the reliability foundation for a new generation of large, capable spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Own the development and maintenance of top-level reliability requirements, models, and allocations to meet vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability

• Define and drive HALT/HASS strategies, accelerated testing plans, and reliability growth programs across spacecraft development and production

• Establish and evolve reliability modelling frameworks, including Weibull analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)

• Integrate reliability analyses with program risk management and drive actionable insights that influence design, manufacturing, and test decisions

• Flow down reliability requirements to subsystems, including margins, screening levels, derating guidelines, and test requirements, and ensure consistent application across programs

• Lead root cause investigations on critical hardware failures and drive systemic corrective actions that improve product robustness and mission reliability

• Collaborate closely with design, systems, test, and manufacturing teams to embed reliability principles early in the development process and optimize for mass production

• Mentor junior engineers on reliability methods, analysis techniques, and best practices while contributing to the growth of the reliability function at K2 Space

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, or other related discipline

• 5+ years of experience in reliability engineering, hardware testing, failure analysis, or related fields in the space, automotive, semiconductor, or other high-reliability industries

Nice to have

• M.S. or PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or other related discipline

• Experience developing and executing life testing methods, including accelerated life testing (ALT) and reliability growth programs

• Experience with thermal, vibration, and TVAC qualification and acceptance testing approaches

• Experience with EEE components (Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical), including semiconductor devices and packaging technologies, in high-reliability or space applications

• Experience building reliability prediction models (Weibull, Monte Carlo, reliability block diagrams) and performing system-level analyses (FTA, PRA)

• Strong foundation in statistical modeling and data analysis, with experience developing custom models for engineering or production data. Interest in or exposure to machine learning techniques is a plus

• Proficiency in programming languages (such as Python or C++) for data analysis, statistical modeling, and reliability calculations

• Familiarity with derating practices, Design for Excellence (DFX), and requirements flow-down in complex hardware systems

• Experience with Physics of Failure (PoF) methodologies and identification of dominant failure mechanisms in electronic hardware and EEE components

• Experience with reliability growth tracking or working toward probability of success / availability targets on vehicles or constellations

• Strong cross-functional communication skills and ability to clearly present technical findings to both engineering and leadership teams

• Experience in a fast-paced startup or new-space environment with high ownership and broad scope

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + 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 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.