Flight Software Engineer

🏢 Summary: Lead Flight Software Engineer role focused on designing and developing mission-critical spacecraft software for guidance, navigation, control, telemetry, and autonomy systems in a fast-paced space technology environment. The position involves leading software architecture, embedded real-time development, system integration, testing, and flight operations support for advanced space systems. Candidates need strong embedded software expertise, leadership experience, and eligibility for U.S. government security requirements. 🗂️ Requirements: BS or MS in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering, 5–10 years of embedded or real-time software development experience, Experience with space, aerospace, robotics, or mission-critical systems, Proven leadership across full software development lifecycle, Strong proficiency in C/C++, Working knowledge of Python or scripting languages, Experience with RTOS, bare-metal programming, or Linux embedded systems, Understanding of software reliability, concurrency, deterministic timing, and resource management, U.S. citizenship, national status, or lawful permanent residency, Ability to obtain or maintain Government Security Clearance 📃 Skills: C, C++, Python, Rust, RTOS, Linux, GNC, CCSDS, SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, NASA, ECSS, DO-178C, MBSE, HIL, Telemetry, Embedded, Bare-metal 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a 'one-to-many' system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. What You'll Do: The Lead Flight Software Engineer will be required to work in a fast-paced prototyping environment with an aggressive schedule toward flight and should have experience and a general understanding of spaceflight payloads. In this position, you will be responsible for low-level and high-level software in Space Kinetic's products through all phases of the development process. As a Lead, you will be responsible for software designs from concept through production, including product roadmaps, block diagrams, detailed design and coding, analysis, test and qualification. The Lead Software Engineer will serve as the technical leader for the development, integration, and validation of Space Kinetic's electromechanical system. This role is responsible for the architecture, design, and implementation of mission-critical software that enables spacecraft control, autonomy, communication, and safety. The ideal candidate possesses deep experience in embedded real-time systems, software reliability, and spacecraft operations. Responsibilities: - Lead the design and development of flight software architecture, including guidance, navigation, control (GNC), telemetry, command, and fault management systems. - Define software requirements, interfaces, and verification strategies in coordination with systems, electrical, and mission engineering teams. - Develop robust, real-time, and fault-tolerant software using C/C++ and/or Rust in embedded or RTOS environments. - Perform software design reviews, code reviews, and verification activities to ensure safety, reliability, and performance compliance with space flight standards. - Mentor and guide software engineers through technical leadership, code quality enforcement, and system-level integration. - Support spacecraft-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and flight simulation testing environments. - Contribute to continuous improvement of software development processes, tools, and best practices across the engineering organization. - Participate in mission readiness reviews, anomaly resolution, and on-orbit software updates and maintenance. - Experience with simulation environments and ground software integration. - Excellent leadership, collaboration, and communication skills across multidisciplinary teams. - Strong problem-solving ability and technical judgment under mission-critical constraints. - Passion for advancing space technologies and contributing to successful missions. What It Takes: - Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Engineering. - 5 - 10 years of experience developing embedded or real-time software for space, aerospace, robotics, or mission-critical systems. - Proven experience leading software development through all phases of the system lifecycle—from requirements through flight operations. - Strong proficiency in C/C++, with working knowledge of Python or scripting languages for automation and testing. - Familiarity with RTOS, bare-metal programming, or Linux-based embedded systems. - Deep understanding of software reliability, deterministic timing, concurrency, and resource management in constrained environments. - Applicant must meet U.S. Government export regulation requirements. - Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance. What We'd Love: - Experience with flight software frameworks (e.g., NASA cFS, F' FPrime, or custom architectures). - Familiarity with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) and interface control documentation. - Knowledge of space communication protocols (CCSDS, SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553, etc.). Where You'll Be: The position is onsite at headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year). What We Offer: - Equity-Based Compensation - Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar - Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage - Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure - Health and Wellness Stipend - Commuter Benefits Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. Pay Range: $220,000—$275,000 USD

🏢 Summary: Lead Systems Engineer role focused on owning launch vehicle system requirements, architecture development, and system-level integration for advanced space missions. The position involves leading multidisciplinary teams, managing verification and validation, and supporting launch campaigns and flight operations. This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role in a fast-paced aerospace environment requiring security clearance eligibility. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering or related field, 10+ years of engineering experience in aerospace, defense, launch vehicles, spacecraft, missile, or high-reliability systems, Experience developing and managing system requirements, Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams, Experience with system integration, verification, and validation, Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle development, U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (export regulations compliance), Ability to obtain and maintain Government Security Clearance 📃 Skills: MBSE, Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, DOORS, Jama, ICDs, SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, GNC, Avionics, Propulsion, SystemsEngineering, Verification, Validation 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a 'one-to-many' system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. What You'll Do: We are seeking a Lead Systems Engineer to be a key contributor to our current programs. Own the development, allocation, and management of launch vehicle system requirements. Lead vehicle-level architecture development and system design trades. Define and maintain requirements traceability from mission objectives through subsystem implementation and verification. Coordinate technical activities across propulsion, structures, avionics, software, GNC, manufacturing, and test organizations. Lead system-level integration efforts and identify interface requirements between vehicle subsystems. Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs), system specifications, and verification plans. Support design reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, FRR, and other program milestones. Lead technical risk identification, mitigation planning, and resolution activities. Support anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective actions during testing and flight operations. Define system verification and validation strategies and ensure successful execution. Support launch campaigns, integrated vehicle testing, and flight readiness activities. Serve as a technical leader and mentor for systems engineering processes and best practices. What It Takes: Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related technical discipline. 10+ years of engineering experience with complex aerospace, defense, launch vehicle, spacecraft, missile, or high-reliability systems. Experience developing and managing system requirements. Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams. Experience with system integration, verification, and validation activities. Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and lifecycle development. Excellent communication and technical leadership skills. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder). Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance is required. Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in Engineering or related technical field. Experience with launch vehicles, spacecraft, satellites, missile systems, or defense aerospace programs. Experience leading System Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR), and Critical Design Reviews (CDR). Experience developing and managing Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Familiarity with MBSE tools such as Cameo, MagicDraw, Capella, or similar platforms. Experience with requirements management tools such as DOORS, Jama, or equivalent. Understanding of mission analysis, flight operations, and launch vehicle architecture. Experience supporting flight test programs and launch campaigns. Active security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one. What We'd Love: Strong systems thinking and problem-solving skills. Ability to balance technical detail with vehicle-level decision making. Comfort working across organizational boundaries and engineering disciplines. Strong ownership mentality and ability to drive issues to closure. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where rapid iteration and execution are critical. Where You'll Be: The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. What We Offer: Equity-Based Compensation Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure Health and Wellness Stipend Commuter Benefits ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on interviews, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range $90,000—$110,000 USD

🏢 Summary: Electrical Engineer role focused on designing and maturing electrical prototypes for advanced space systems, including circuit design, PCB development, testing, and system integration for flight-ready aerospace hardware. The position involves close collaboration with manufacturing and engineering teams in a fast-paced onsite startup environment. Candidates must have hands-on electrical engineering experience, motor control expertise, and eligibility under U.S. export regulations. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field, 3–5 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience, Experience designing three phase field-oriented controllers, Proficiency in circuit design and schematic creation, Experience with PCB and schematic design tools, Experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes, Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals and system integration, Ability to troubleshoot circuits and debug hardware, Experience coordinating with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors, Ability to obtain or maintain Government Security Clearance, U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident under export regulations 📃 Skills: Altium, PCB, Schematics, Electronics, Microcontrollers, Sensors, Power, DFM, DFT, Oscilloscopes, Multimeters, LogicAnalyzers, Wiring, Debugging, Testing, BOMs, ICDs 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small number of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a 'one-to-many' system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. Position Overview: The Electrical Engineer will play a critical role in designing, building, and maturing prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology. You will support the team in refining the electrical architecture of the current prototype and driving the system closer to a flight-ready configuration with each iteration. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking concepts from schematic to hardware, solving complex electrical challenges, and working closely with mechanical and manufacturing teams to bring cutting-edge space hardware to life. We are exploring electrical engineering opportunities in New Mexico and welcome qualified candidates interested in supporting innovative aerospace programs to connect with us for potential future roles. What You'll Do: - Design, develop, and build electrical prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology. - Refine and finalize the current prototype's electrical design to support all phases of prototype maturation. - Undertake and complete circuit design tasks, generate detailed schematics, and perform component selection aligned with environmental and system requirements. - Apply detailed tolerancing, design-for-manufacture principles, and thorough documentation across all electrical prototype phases. - Support PCB layout design and coordinate with external vendors for fabrication and assembly of PCB components. - Collaborate closely with the manufacturing and engineering team to integrate electrical systems into mechanical assemblies. - Verify and validate electrical designs through testing, troubleshooting, debugging, and iteration to improve system reliability and performance. - Participate in design reviews, contribute to system-level engineering discussions, and ensure the electrical subsystem progresses toward flight-readiness. - Support the creation and maintenance of electrical documentation, including BOMs, wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and test procedures. - Ensure each design iteration moves the system closer to a flight-ready prototype aligned with the 2-year flight demonstration goal. What It Takes: - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related STEM field. - Minimum 3–5 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience, ideally involving prototype development. - Experience designing three phase field-oriented controllers for bidirectional motor drives. - Proficiency in circuit design, schematic creation, and component selection. - Experience working with schematic and PCB design tools such as Altium. - Demonstrated experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes. - Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals, wiring practices, and system integration. - Ability to troubleshoot circuits, debug hardware, and iterate rapidly. - Experience collaborating with vendors for PCB fabrication and assembly. - Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. - Ability to build and maintain a network of talented individuals. - Organizational and planning skills. - Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance. What We'd Love: - Experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, robotics, or similarly rigorous applications. - Familiarity with design-for-manufacture (DFM), design-for-test (DFT), and tolerance analysis. - Knowledge of embedded systems, field oriented controls, microcontrollers, sensors, and power electronics. - Experience with environmental or functional testing of electrical systems. - Hands-on experience with lab equipment including oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, and logic analyzers. - Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving requirements. Where You'll Be: The position will be onsite at the Albuquerque, New Mexico facility. What We Offer: - Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation - Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar - Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage - Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure - Health and Wellness Stipend - Commuter Benefits ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

🏢 Summary: Open application opportunity for candidates interested in joining a space technology startup developing a new architecture for space operations. Roles may be based on-site in El Segundo, CA or potentially remote, with competitive compensation, equity, benefits, and performance bonuses. Candidates must meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements. 🗂️ Requirements: Eligible under ITAR regulations, Ability to work on-site in El Segundo, CA or remotely, Willingness to work in a high-commitment startup environment 📃 Skills: ITAR, Space, Aerospace 🏢 Description: Don't See Your Ideal Position? Name Your Job! Who We Are Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a 'one-to-many' system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. Where You'll Be: Positions will be on-site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA, or possibly remote. What We Offer: - Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation - Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar - Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage - Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure - Health and Wellness Stipend - Commuter Benefits ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

🏢 Summary: Opportunity for an Electrical Hardware Design Engineer to lead the end-to-end design and development of circuit cards and electronics hardware for spacecraft and mission-critical aerospace systems. The role involves hands-on schematic capture, PCB layout, bring-up, testing, and integration of analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics in demanding space environments. This is a highly technical, on-site position requiring ownership of flight hardware from concept through production. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, 3+ years of professional electrical engineering experience, Experience designing circuit cards, schematics, and PCBs for spacecraft, aerospace, defense, or high-reliability applications, Experience with spacecraft hardware or spacecraft electrical systems, Experience with flight systems, avionics, or mission-critical electrical hardware, Strong knowledge of analog and digital circuit design, Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer, Experience owning board-level hardware through design, layout, bring-up, debugging, and testing, Experience with component selection and technical documentation, U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (ITAR compliance), Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance 📃 Skills: Altium, PCB, Analog, Digital, Mixed-signal, Power, EMI, EMC, Avionics, Embedded, Signal-integrity, Thermal, Vibration, Vacuum, ITAR 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Drones have fundamentally changed the nature of conflict and maneuver. The next theater to be changed by drone technology is space. Space Kinetic is a space technology startup company building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of drone technology to space missions without relying on consumable fuel. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week.Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, anda high levelof commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. Position Overview: As a Senior Electrical Hardware Design Engineer you will own the design, development, integration, and testing of circuit cards and related electronics hardware for spacecraft and other advanced aerospace and defense systems. You will work closely with mechanical, software, systems, manufacturing, and test engineers to develop space rated flight hardware that performs reliably in demanding environments. What You'll Do: Design, develop, and validate schematics, PCB layouts, circuit cards, electrical interfaces, and supporting electronics hardware. Own circuit card design from concept through schematic capture, PCB layout, bring-up, debugging, testing, and release. Develop analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics designs for embedded systems, sensors, actuators, controllers, and related flight hardware. Perform component selection, circuit analysis, worst-case analysis, derating reviews, and design trade studies. Support PCB stack-up definition, grounding strategies, signal integrity considerations, power integrity considerations, and EMI/EMC design practices. Work closely with mechanical and thermal teams to support electronics packaging, board-level thermal management, heat dissipation strategies, and environmental constraints. Develop and execute electrical test plans for circuit cards, subsystems, and integrated hardware. Collaborate with firmware, software, and controls teams to integrate electronics hardware with embedded processors, sensors, communication interfaces, and control systems. Support design for manufacturability, design for test, prototype builds, supplier coordination, and transition from engineering development to repeatable production. Drive rapid design iterations in a hands-on development environment where hardware is designed, built, tested, and improved quickly. What It Takes: Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related engineering discipline. 7+ years of professional electrical engineering experience. Experience designing electrical hardware, circuit cards, schematics, and PCBs for spacecraft, satellites, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability applications. Experience working on spacecraft hardware or spacecraft electrical systems. Experience with flight systems, flight electronics, avionics, or other mission-critical electrical hardware. Strong understanding of analog and digital circuit design. Experience with schematic capture and PCB design using Altium Designer. Experience owning board-level hardware through design, layout, bring-up, debugging, and testing. Experience selecting components and working with datasheets, reference designs, and supplier documentation. Strong engineering fundamentals and ability to make sound design decisions with incomplete information. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field. 9+ years of experience designing electronics for spacecraft, satellites, launch vehicles, missile systems, aircraft, defense systems, or other mission-critical hardware. Experience with flight-qualified or flight-intent hardware development. Experience with mixed-signal PCB design, power electronics, motor controllers, sensor interfaces, battery-powered systems, or embedded control hardware. Experience with board-level thermal management, electronics packaging, heat sinking, thermal interfaces, and thermal testing. Experience with high-density PCB design, impedance-controlled routing, grounding strategies, stack-up definition, and signal integrity best practices. Knowledge of EMI/EMC design practices and qualification testing. Experience with environmental testing including vibration, shock, thermal, and vacuum testing. Experience working with PCB fabricators, contract manufacturers, component suppliers, and external test labs. Familiarity with aerospace standards, high-reliability design practices, and configuration-controlled hardware development. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder). Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance. What You'll Bring Strong technical judgment and engineering fundamentals. A hands-on approach to electrical design, debugging, and problem solving. Deep interest in circuit card design and the details that make electronics reliable in real-world environments. Ability to work across electrical, mechanical, thermal, software, manufacturing, and systems engineering disciplines. Comfort operating in an environment with ambitious schedules, evolving requirements, and challenging technical goals. A practical understanding of how design choices affect manufacturability, testability, reliability, and performance. A desire to see hardware through the full lifecycle — from concept and schematic design to PCB layout, bring-up, qualification, integration, and fielded operation. *Our vision is unique, and so is the team we're building. If you're driven to succeed in this role, even if your background doesn't fully align with every qualification, we want your application. Where You'll Be: The position will be on site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. What We Offer: Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades aredeterminedby role, level, location, and alignment with market data.Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range $120,000 – $160,000The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range$120,000—$160,000 USD

🏢 Summary: Senior Mixed Signal Electrical Engineer role focused on designing and maturing advanced electrical prototypes for space systems, including custom motor controllers, embedded systems, and power electronics for flight-ready applications. The position involves analog and digital circuit design, PCB development, testing, debugging, and cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced aerospace startup environment. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related STEM field, 7+ years of hands-on electrical engineering experience, Experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar industries, Experience designing analog circuitry, Experience designing digital circuitry and output drivers, Experience working with embedded systems, Proficiency in circuit design, schematic creation, and component selection, Experience with schematic and PCB design tools, Experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes, Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals and system integration, Ability to troubleshoot circuits and debug hardware, Hands-on experience with lab equipment, Experience collaborating with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors, Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment, U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or eligibility under ITAR regulations, Ability to obtain or maintain Government Security Clearance 📃 Skills: Altium, PCB, Embedded, C, Microcontrollers, Sensors, Electronics, Oscilloscopes, Multimeters, Power, Schematics, ICDs, BOMs, Debugging, Testing, Circuitry 🏢 Description: A New Paradigm For Space Operations. Who We Are: Drones have fundamentally changed the nature of conflict and maneuver. The next theater to be changed by drone technology is space. Space Kinetic is a space technology startup company building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of drone technology to space missions without relying on consumable fuel. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week.Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, anda high levelof commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. Position Overview: The Senior Electrical Engineer, Power Electronics & Embedded Systems (Mixed Signal) will play a critical role in designing, building, and maturing prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology. You will design systems that process both analog and digital signals and bridge the gap between real-world physical inputs like pressure and temperature sensors and the processor in an embedded system. With your knowledge of analog electronics, you will design signal conditioning circuitry and with additional knowledge of discrete electronic components and integrated circuits, you will help design actuator controllers like the driver circuitry required in a motor controller and the interfaces to power electronics. You will support the team in refining the electrical architecture of the current prototype and driving the system closer to a flight-ready configuration with each iteration.Your first project will involve a custom motor controller with power levels never before implemented in space and an electromechanical system with novel energy recycling functions. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking concepts from schematic to hardware, solving complex electrical challenges, and working closely with mechanical and manufacturing teams to bring cutting-edge space hardware to life. What You'll Do: Design, develop, and build electrical prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology. Refine and finalize the current prototype's electrical design to support all phases of prototype maturation. Undertake and complete circuit design tasks, generate detailed schematics, and perform component selection aligned with environmental and system requirements. Apply detailed tolerancing, design-for-manufacture principles, and thorough documentation across all electrical prototype phases. Support PCB layout design and coordinate with external vendors for fabrication and assembly of PCB components. Collaborate closely with the Space Kinetic manufacturing and engineering team to integrate electrical systems into mechanical assemblies. Verify and validate your electrical designs through testing, troubleshooting, debugging, and iteration to improve system reliability and performance. Actively participate in design reviews, contribute to system-level engineering discussions, and ensure the electrical subsystem progresses toward flight-readiness. Support the creation and maintenance of electrical documentation, including BOMs, wiring diagrams, interface control documents (ICDs), and test procedures. Ensure each design iteration moves the system closer to a flight-ready prototype aligned with Space Kinetic's 2-year flight demonstration goal. What It Takes: Basic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic) field. Experience developing hardware for aerospace, defense, robotics, or similarly rigorous applications. A minimum of 7 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience, ideally involving prototype development. Experience designing analog circuitry such as signal conditioning circuitry. Experience designing digital circuitry and output drivers such as gate drivers and motor drivers. Experience working with embedded systems. Proficiency in circuit design, schematic creation, and component selection. Experience working with Schematic / PCB design tools (e.g., Altium). Demonstrated experience building and testing electrical systems or prototypes. Strong understanding of electronics fundamentals, wiring practices, and system integration. Ability to troubleshoot circuits, debug hardware, and iterate rapidly. Hands-on experience with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, logic analyzers). Experience collaborating with vendors for PCB fabrication and assembly. Excellent documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills. Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving requirements. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder). Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance. Preferred Qualifications A minimum of 9 years of hands-on electrical engineering experience. Experience in developing embedded systems. Experience in developing power electronics. Experience with the C programming language. Knowledge of field-oriented controls, microcontrollers, sensors, and power electronics. Experience with environmental or functional testing of electrical systems. *Our vision is unique, and so is the team we're building. If you're driven to succeed in this role, even if your background doesn't fully align with every qualification, we want your application. Where You'll Be: The position will be on site at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. What We Offer: Competitive Base Salary + Equity-Based Compensation Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here Equal Employment Opportunity: Space Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades aredeterminedby role, level, location, and alignment with market data.Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range $140,000 – $180,000The annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. Pay Range$140,000—$180,000 USD

🏢 Summary: Technical recruiting role focused on building engineering and leadership teams for a space technology startup developing advanced space operations systems. The position involves full-cycle recruiting across aerospace, avionics, software, propulsion, manufacturing, and mission operations disciplines in a fast-paced onsite environment. Candidates should have strong sourcing expertise, experience hiring specialized technical talent, and familiarity with aerospace, defense, or deep-tech sectors. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, 5+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience, Experience hiring engineers and technical professionals, Experience building teams in aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, space, or deep-tech sectors, Strong sourcing experience using LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, networking, and direct outreach, Track record hiring specialized technical talent, Strong communication and candidate-closing skills, Ability to work onsite in El Segundo, CA, Eligibility to comply with ITAR regulations 📃 Skills: LinkedIn, Recruiting, Sourcing, Avionics, GNC, Propulsion, Manufacturing, Software, Systems, Networking 🏢 Description: Who We Are: Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attritable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small number of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a one-to-many system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space. What You'll Do: Space Kinetic is seeking an experienced Technical Recruiter to help build the team that will redefine how humanity operates in space. This individual will serve as a strategic talent partner to engineering and leadership teams, leading full-cycle recruiting efforts across highly technical disciplines including spacecraft systems, avionics, software, GNC, propulsion, manufacturing, test, and mission operations. The ideal candidate has experience scaling teams at venture-backed aerospace, defense, or deep-tech companies and understands how to identify, engage, and close world-class engineering talent in highly competitive markets. This role requires exceptional sourcing ability, strong technical fluency, and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced startup environment. Basic Responsibilities: Full-Cycle Technical Recruiting - Own end-to-end recruiting processes across engineering, operations, and leadership roles - Develop sourcing strategies to identify exceptional candidates from aerospace, defense, robotics, autonomous systems, and adjacent industries - Manage candidate pipelines from initial outreach through offer acceptance and onboarding Space Industry Talent Acquisition - Leverage existing networks across the commercial space, defense, and advanced technology ecosystems - Identify and recruit top talent from established aerospace primes, venture-backed startups, government laboratories, and research institutions - Build talent pipelines for critical technical functions including systems engineering, flight software, avionics, structures, manufacturing, propulsion, and mission operations Hiring Manager Partnership - Partner closely with engineering leaders to define hiring needs, role requirements, and candidate evaluation criteria - Develop structured interview processes that assess technical excellence, startup aptitude, and cultural alignment Talent Brand & Recruiting Operations - Serve as an ambassador for the mission, culture, and technology vision - Build and maintain recruiting processes, metrics, and reporting mechanisms that support company growth - Represent the company at industry conferences, networking events, university recruiting activities, and technical communities What It Takes: - Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience - 5+ years of full-cycle technical recruiting experience, including experience hiring engineers and technical professionals - Demonstrated experience building teams within the aerospace, defense, space, robotics, autonomous systems, or deep technology sectors - Strong sourcing experience utilizing LinkedIn Recruiter, referrals, networking, and direct outreach strategies - Track record of successfully hiring highly specialized technical talent in competitive markets - Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and candidate-closing skills What We'd Love: - Experience helping scale an early-stage aerospace or defense technology startup - Existing network within the commercial space and national security space communities - Experience recruiting spacecraft, propulsion, GNC, software, manufacturing, and systems engineering talent - Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere Where You'll Be: The position is onsite at the headquarters in El Segundo, CA. What We Offer: - Equity-Based Compensation - Highly Competitive PTO and Holiday Calendar - Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage - Unique Performance-Based Bonus Structure - Health and Wellness Stipend - Commuter Benefits ITAR Requirements: To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Equal Employment Opportunity: The company provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to legally protected status. Pay Range: $140,000 - $200,000 USD

🏢 Summary: The role is for a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) embedded within the flight software team, responsible for building and owning automated test frameworks and hardware-in-the-loop infrastructure for high-power satellite systems. The position focuses on enabling reliable, rapid deployment of spacecraft flight software through robust CI/CD integration and end-to-end subsystem test coverage. This is a hands-on engineering role centered on developing scalable test systems for mission-critical space hardware. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related STEM field, or equivalent experience, Experience building and maintaining test automation frameworks, Experience with CI/CD systems, Experience with version control using Git, Ability to design and develop automated test infrastructure, U.S. Person status or eligibility for export control license (ITAR compliance) 📃 Skills: Python, Rust, Git, GitLab, GitHub, Jenkins, CI/CD, HIL, SIL, RTOS, Embedded, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, UART, Ethernet, SpaceWire, RS-422, RS-485, Oscilloscopes, JIRA, Shell 🏢 Description: 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 The software team at K2 builds software across the stack, from gateware & micro firmware to high level satellite control to Ground Software and all the associated testing, and we're looking for an SDET who shares our belief that test infrastructure is a first-class engineering discipline. You will be embedded directly within the flight software team, working shoulder-to-shoulder with the engineers writing the code that flies our spacecraft owning the automation frameworks, test tooling, and HIL infrastructure that make rapid, confident software deployment possible. This role is not a QA function. You will be a builder. In your first 6 months, you will design and ship core test automation frameworks and integrate them into our CI/CD pipelines. In your first year, you will own end-to-end test coverage across multiple spacecraft subsystems and lead HIL testing campaigns alongside flight software engineers, proving the software is ready to go to space. In your first two years, you will have operated your test systems against hardware that has been launched to orbit. Responsibilities Design, develop, and own software test frameworks targeting K2's flight software stack, including subsystems for propulsion, GNC, power, thermal, and communications Build and maintain automation tooling that integrates seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, enabling fast and reliable flight software deployment Develop hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test infrastructure in close collaboration with flight software engineers Create tooling for test execution, data collection, and anomaly triage that gives engineers clear, actionable signal Reduce flaky and nondeterministic tests; continuously improve coverage, pipeline reliability, and test execution speed Collaborate with flight software, avionics, and systems engineers to define test requirements, write test plans, and execute verification campaigns Analyze test results to identify and characterize failures, and drive resolution across the team Maintain documentation for test infrastructure, procedures, and hardware configurations Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related STEM field, or equivalent professional experience Experience building and maintaining test automation frameworks, not just executing tests written by others Experience with CI/CD systems (e.g., GitLab Pipelines, GitHub Actions, Jenkins) and version control (Git) Nice to Have Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds or embedded systems testing Experience testing avionics, spacecraft, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other safety-critical hardware Rust programming experience, including embedded or no_std environments Knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS) or bare-metal embedded firmware Familiarity with aerospace communication protocols (RS-422/485, Ethernet, UART, SpaceWire, Ethernet) Experience with electronics test equipment: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies Containerization experience (Docker, Kubernetes) for test environment management Experience with Embedded Linux Familiarity with shell scripting Compensation and Benefits: Base salary range for this role is $135,000 - $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.

🏢 Summary: Engineering leadership role responsible for establishing and enforcing rigorous design review, verification, and configuration management processes to ensure high‑reliability spacecraft systems. The position owns the design reliability framework, formal design signoff authority, and standardized handoff to production for mass‑produced satellite platforms. It focuses on structured, traceable, and requirements‑compliant spacecraft development in a fast‑paced aerospace environment. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer, or related Engineering, 6+ years experience in aerospace or manufacturing, 3+ years experience managing technical projects, trades, or teams, Strong understanding of spacecraft, launch vehicles, or aerospace systems, Experience with design review and verification processes, Experience with configuration management practices, U.S. Person status or eligibility for export control license (ITAR) 📃 Skills: Aerospace, SystemsEngineering, ConfigurationManagement, Verification, Validation, Documentation, RequirementsManagement, Integration, Testing, ITAR 🏢 Description: 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 ensure that every K2 spacecraft is designed, documented, and verified using rigorous, standardized processes that consistently meet requirements and deliver exceptionally reliable flight systems. You will own and continuously improve the design reliability framework for our spacecraft, driving the creation, enforcement, and evolution of design standards across the engineering organization. You will lead development of K2's design review processes, review templates, configuration management practices, and design verification standards, ensuring that each design iteration adheres to high-reliability principles and is validated in a consistent, traceable manner. You will exercise formal design review signoff authority and serve as a key technical gatekeeper during development. As production begins, you will guide a disciplined handoff to Build Reliability, ensuring that manufacturing and test teams inherit well‑documented, fully verified designs. This role is ideal for a systems-minded engineer who thrives on structure, rigor, and enabling teams to build high-powered hardware right the first time. Responsibilities Develop and maintain standardized design review processes, including templates, workflows, and review structures Serve as a design review signoff authority, ensuring all designs meet internal and customer requirements and reliability criteria before release Establish, document, and enforce comprehensive design and verification standards across engineering Define and manage design configuration management practices to ensure controlled, traceable design evolution Drive consistency in requirement interpretation, verification methods, and documentation across all engineering teams Partner with engineering leads to ensure designs are completed in a standard, verified fashion aligned with program requirements Lead and participate in cross-disciplinary reviews to evaluate design readiness, compliance, and verification closure Provide structured and complete design handoffs to Build Reliability as programs transition into production Ensure production and flight lessons learned are systematically captured and incorporated into future design iterations to drive continuous improvement and reliability growth Establish and enforce standardized processes for acceptance and qualification testing to ensure consistent, repeatable, and requirements‑compliant execution Operate effectively in a rapidly evolving startup where agility, autonomy, and proactive problem-solving are essential Qualifications Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline 6+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing 3+ years of experience managing projects, technical trades, and/or technical teams Strong understanding of launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems Exceptional written and verbal communication skills Nice to Have Master's degree or PhD in an engineering or science discipline 10+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing 5+ years of experience managing projects or technical trades Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance Experience leading Spacecraft mission design, development, integration, test, and/or launch across multiple departments Proven ability to innovate in process improvement and system architectures Skilled in generating executive summaries to drive decision making through senior leadership discussions Familiarity with contracts and mission requirements evaluations Demonstrated track record of project ownership, responsibility for execution, and successful outcomes Ability to travel up to 25% of the time 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.

🏢 Summary: The role focuses on establishing and enforcing rigorous design review, verification, and configuration management processes to ensure high‑reliability spacecraft systems. You will act as a technical gatekeeper with signoff authority, driving standardized design, documentation, and validation practices across engineering and supporting the transition to production. This position suits a systems‑oriented aerospace engineer experienced in structured development and reliability-driven hardware programs. 🗂️ Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer, or related Engineering, 4+ years experience in aerospace or manufacturing, 2+ years experience managing technical projects, trades, or teams, Strong knowledge of spacecraft, launch vehicles, or aerospace systems, Experience with design reviews and verification processes, Experience with configuration management practices, Ability to meet ITAR U.S. Person eligibility requirements 📃 Skills: Aerospace, SystemsEngineering, ConfigurationManagement, Verification, Validation, RequirementsManagement, Testing, Manufacturing, ITAR 🏢 Description: 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 ensure that every K2 spacecraft is designed, documented, and verified using rigorous, standardized processes that consistently meet requirements and deliver exceptionally reliable flight systems. You will own and continuously improve the design reliability framework for our spacecraft, driving the creation, enforcement, and evolution of design standards across the engineering organization. You will lead development of K2's design review processes, review templates, configuration management practices, and design verification standards, ensuring that each design iteration adheres to high-reliability principles and is validated in a consistent, traceable manner. You will exercise formal design review signoff authority and serve as a key technical gatekeeper during development. As production begins, you will guide a disciplined handoff to Build Reliability, ensuring that manufacturing and test teams inherit well‑documented, fully verified designs. This role is ideal for a systems-minded engineer who thrives on structure, rigor, and enabling teams to build high-powered hardware right the first time. Responsibilities Develop and maintain standardized design review processes, including templates, workflows, and review structures Serve as a design review signoff authority, ensuring all designs meet internal and customer requirements and reliability criteria before release Establish, document, and enforce comprehensive design and verification standards across engineering Define and manage design configuration management practices to ensure controlled, traceable design evolution Drive consistency in requirement interpretation, verification methods, and documentation across all engineering teams Partner with engineering leads to ensure designs are completed in a standard, verified fashion aligned with program requirements Lead and participate in cross-disciplinary reviews to evaluate design readiness, compliance, and verification closure Provide structured and complete design handoffs to Build Reliability as programs transition into production Ensure production and flight lessons learned are systematically captured and incorporated into future design iterations to drive continuous improvement and reliability growth Establish and enforce standardized processes for acceptance and qualification testing to ensure consistent, repeatable, and requirements‑compliant execution Operate effectively in a rapidly evolving startup where agility, autonomy, and proactive problem-solving are essential Qualifications Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline 4+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing 2+ years of experience managing projects, technical trades, and/or technical teams Strong understanding of launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems Exceptional written and verbal communication skills Nice to Have Master's degree or PhD in an engineering or science discipline 8+ years of experience in technical aerospace or manufacturing 3+ years of experience managing projects or technical trades Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance Experience leading Spacecraft mission design, development, integration, test, and/or launch across multiple departments Proven ability to innovate in process improvement and system architectures Skilled in generating executive summaries to drive decision making through senior leadership discussions Familiarity with contracts and mission requirements evaluations Demonstrated track record of project ownership, responsibility for execution, and successful outcomes Ability to travel up to 25% of the time 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.