About this Principal Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer role at K2 Space
K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion 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 in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward 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 high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.
The Role
Partnering with the Mechanisms Engineering team 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. Once transitioned, you will have the opportunity to make a positive impact scaling production to meet K2’s ever-growing demand. You will implement new techniques for manufacturing complex mechanisms – including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies – as well as the electromechanical assemblies and machined components they integrate into. In your first 6 months you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling for these mechanisms, define manufacturing flows for mechanism subsystems, build test articles to support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, and provide Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and higher-level assemblies. In your first year you will implement these advanced manufacturing techniques on flight hardware and scale the technology you develop to high-rate production. As a Principal on the team, you will also set manufacturing policy and standards, proactively flag risk in upcoming mechanism designs before it becomes a problem, plan ahead for the manufacturability of future programs, and build tools that make the rest of the Manufacturing Engineering team faster and more effective.
Responsibilities
- Lead design-for-excellence (DFX) reviews with the Mechanisms Engineering team, providing manufacturability, testability, and assembly guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling
- Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies
- Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating manufacturability, process, and quality risks before they surface
- Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future mechanism designs and program roadmaps
- Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies, using data-driven analysis to optimize current production and inform manufacturing business decisions
- Create custom tools, automation, and processes — including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software — to support the manufacturing technologies you create and streamline the work of the broader Manufacturing Engineering team
- Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs
- Build test articles and support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, iterating on hardware and processes as test results come in
- Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite and ensure that build times align with current takt times
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior manufacturing engineers, technicians, and design peers on mechanisms manufacturing best practices
- Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, 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 track record of leading product development and/or process improvement initiatives
- Strong understanding of mechanisms-specific industry standards such as NASA-STD-5017 (Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms) and AIAA S-114 (Moving Mechanical Assemblies for Space and Launch Vehicles), as well as familiarity with the environmental qualification standards (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000) the Mechanisms Engineering team designs against
- Strong understanding of how to set up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing
- Deep understanding of mechanisms subassembly manufacturing technologies, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies
- Strong understanding of design-for-excellence (DFX) principles, with the ability to guide design teams across mechanisms, machined components, and mechanical assemblies
- Strong understanding of GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs
- Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risk across programs, and to influence cross-functional teams to drive design changes for manufacturability
- Experience developing or deploying tools, automation, or software that scale the efficiency of a manufacturing engineering team
Nice to Have
- Familiarity with precision bearing standards (e.g., ABMA) and bearing preload techniques and measurement, as used in rotational actuators, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies
- Experience designing tooling for mechanisms and electromechanical subassemblies
- Some experience with wire harness manufacturing and integration
- Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing
- Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling
- Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as lubrication practices, torque specifications, and quality assurance standards
- Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent)
- Familiarity with data analytics tools (e.g., Python, SQL) or automation platforms used to process manufacturing data and drive business decisions
- 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 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.
