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Salary: USD 140,000 - 175,000 / annual
K2 Space is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, backed by over $1 billion in funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price. With over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, K2 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.
In this role, you will partner with design engineers early in the development process to ensure manufacturability, build the first prototype, design the build flow and fixturing, and finalize the process for transition to production. Once transitioned, you will scale production to meet K2's growing demand. You will implement new techniques for manufacturing complex PCBAs, harnessing, and integrated electronics systems, and partner closely with mechanical teams on electromechanical assemblies and machined components.
In your first 6 months, you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling for integrated avionics systems, define manufacturing flows for electronic subsystems, and collaborate with design teams to provide Design-for-Excellence (DFX) guidance across PCBs, PCBAs, 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.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead design-for-excellence reviews with design engineers across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies
- Lead development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft electronic assemblies, including electromechanical sub-assemblies and harnessing
- Create custom tools and processes to support manufacturing technologies, including Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software
- Demonstrate advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes and continuously improve design manufacturability
- Develop subassembly build flow and iterate to create efficient production flow aligned with takt times
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior Manufacturing Engineers, technicians, and design peers on electronics manufacturing best practices
- Partner with advanced manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
- 6+ years of experience in a high-volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role
- Demonstrated track record leading product development and/or 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 a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds and transitioning from low to high-rate manufacturing
- Deep understanding of avionics subassembly manufacturing technologies, including PCBA assembly, wire harness manufacturing, and PCBA/mechanical enclosure integration
- Strong understanding of DFX guidance to 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
- Good understanding of conformal coating processes (selective spray, dip, or brush application) and associated inspection/rework methods per IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1
NICE TO HAVE:
- Strong understanding and track record of tooling design for electromechanical subassemblies and electronics
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop production processes from the ground up, including driving design improvements for manufacturing
- Strong understanding of technician workflows and build tooling, with track record of working closely with production teams to implement feedback-driven process improvements; experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as soldering standards, torque specifications, and quality assurance standards
- Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent) and GD&T
- Strong understanding and experience working with MES, with ability to set up the foundation for procedure creation, template generation, and documentation of non-conformances
Note: ITAR 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.
