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Salary: USD 175,000 - 200,000 / annual
K2 Space is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, backed by over $1 billion in total funding and $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers. The company is mass-producing advanced satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space, with multiple launches planned for 2027 and scaling to 100 satellites per year.
As Principal Electrical Manufacturing Engineer, you will be a technical leader responsible for pioneering manufacturing approaches for complex spacecraft electronics systems. Partnering with design engineers early in the development process, you will ensure manufacturability, build the first prototype, design build flows and fixturing, and finalize processes for production transition. Once transitioned, you will own scaling production to meet K2's growing demand.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead Design-for-Excellence (DFX) reviews with design engineers across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies
- Develop innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft electronics, including PCBA integration, wire harnessing, and electromechanical sub-assemblies
- Set manufacturing policy, standards, and best practices for the Manufacturing Engineering organization, proactively identifying and mitigating risks
- Plan manufacturing strategy, tooling, and capacity investments ahead of future product designs and program roadmaps
- Research and pilot new assembly methodologies and automation technologies using data-driven analysis
- Create custom tools, automation, and processes, including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software, to support manufacturing technologies and streamline team workflows
- Demonstrate advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes and work with design teams to continuously improve manufacturability
- Develop subassembly build flows and iterate to create efficient production flows aligned with takt times
- Mentor junior Manufacturing Engineers, technicians, and design peers on electronics manufacturing best practices
- Partner with advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products
In your first 6 months, you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling for integrated avionics systems, define manufacturing flows for electronic subsystems, and lead DFX guidance across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and higher-level assemblies. As a Principal, you will set manufacturing policy and standards, proactively flag design risks before they become problems, plan ahead for future program manufacturability, and build tools that make the Manufacturing Engineering team faster and more effective.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, electronics, 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 with demonstrated excellence leading product development and process improvements
- Strong understanding of IPC standards (IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, J-STD-001) for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection
- Strong understanding of setting up manufacturing/production floors for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing of wire harness manufacturing or PCBA/mechanical enclosure integration
- Strong understanding of DFX principles with ability to guide design teams across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and mechanical assemblies
- Strong understanding of GD&T and mechanical assembly drawings, with ability to review and provide feedback on electrical and mechanical designs
- Strong understanding of conformal coating and associated inspection/rework methods for PCBAs per standards such as IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1
- Demonstrated ability to set manufacturing policy and proactively identify and mitigate manufacturing risk across programs
- Experience developing or deploying tools, automation, or software that scale the efficiency of a manufacturing engineering team
- Deep understanding and experience with CAD software (NX or equivalent)
- Strong understanding and experience working with MES, with ability to set up foundation for procedure creation, template generation, and documentation of non-conformances
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing
NICE TO HAVE:
- Strong understanding and track record of tooling design for electromechanical subassemblies and electronics
- Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as soldering standards, torque specifications, and quality assurance standards
- Familiarity with data analytics tools (Python, SQL) or automation platforms used to process manufacturing data and drive business decisions
NOTE: ITAR export control compliance required. Must be a U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.
