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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 funding and $1 billion in signed contracts with commercial and US government customers. The company is mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space, with multiple launches planned for 2027 and scaling to 100 satellites per year.
As Principal Turbomachinery Engineer, you will own the design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, integration, and deployment of precision turbomachinery for active thermal control systems on K2's spacecraft platforms. You will define how K2 designs and manufactures these mission-critical components that operate in the harshest space environments.
Key responsibilities include:
- Architectural down-selection, design, and tolerancing of turbomachinery mechanisms
- Pump- and mechanism-specific analyses including rotor dynamics, bearings and seals, hydraulic performance, structural, and thermal-fluid analysis
- Environmental test and qualification planning
- Ground and in-flight performance validation planning
- Supply chain and high-volume manufacturing trade studies
- Partnering with thermal and platform architecture teams to scope long-term pumped-fluid-loop roadmap and system performance requirements
- Collaborating with thermal, structures, avionics, and satellite bus teams to determine optimal operations and requirements
- Preparing design reviews to secure stakeholder buy-in across hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams
- Owning program deliverables and schedules throughout development and production
- Evaluating and selecting manufacturing equipment for specialty processes (impeller machining, balancing, leak/flow testing)
- Developing work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests with production teams
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
- 8+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis
- 2+ years of experience designing and analyzing turbomachinery in harsh environments
- Experience with CAD or FEA software packages
Nice to have:
- Experience designing, building, and testing centrifugal or axial pumps for closed-loop thermal systems, including impeller geometry, volute/diffuser design, and hydraulic performance prediction
- Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for design and qualification of in-space moving mechanism assemblies
- Experience with bearing analysis, preload techniques, and preload measurement
- Practical application of GD&T
- Demonstrated ability to own moving mechanism assemblies across full product lifecycle in high-velocity environment
- Understanding of structural analysis and failure modes of complex mechanical systems in space environments
- Independent, self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills across disciplines
