Senior Mechanisms Engineer, Optical

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 

K2’s plan doesn't stop at satellite buses. Operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space uniquely positions K2 to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious remote sensing payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform – the payloads are the mission. 

There are any number of space-based optical payloads that can generate value here on Earth (ex. forest fire detection, climate and atmospheric monitoring, etc.) and further planetary science in our solar system (ex. hyper-spectral imaging, laser-altimetry) -- many of which benefit from precision optical mechanisms in the payload’s optics bench that provide things like (i) line of sight stabilization or scanning, (ii) focus adjustment, or (iii) reconfigurability. 

As Senior Mechanisms Engineer, you will be responsible for defining how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, integrates, and deploys precision, high-speed optical mechanisms and associated mechanical structures for use in K2’s portfolio of optical payloads. The development timelines and manufacturing scale that we are targeting will require meaningful innovation, but you will have the resources and full support of K2 to make this possible and help raise the bar for the next generation of space technology companies. 

In fact, the clock is already ticking. Your first hardware goes to space in 18 months. Please inquire within for more information, and good luck. 

Responsibilities 

• Responsible for delivering the... 

1. architectural down-selection, design, and tolerancing; 
2. mechanism-specific analyses (structural, controls, thermal, etc.); 
3. environmental test and qualification plans; 
4. supply chain and high-volume manufacturing plans; and  
5. ground- and in-flight performance validation plans 

...  for a range of mechanisms supporting space-borne optical payloads. 

• Collaborate with the optical and satellite bus teams to gather and determine the optimal operations and set of requirements for your mechanisms 
• Prepare design reviews for your mechanisms to get stakeholder buy-in and communicate expectations to the other hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams 
• Continually own and refine program deliverables and associated schedules throughout development and production 
• Responsible for the evaluation and selection of manufacturing equipment for specialty processes 
• Partner with production to develop work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line tests that ensure successful builds 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline 
• 5+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in optics, laser technology, controller development, electromechanical mechanisms, or electrical/mechanical design or testing 
• Deep Experience with CAD and FEA software packages (examples/ NX, Simcenter, FEMAP, and/or Hypermesh) 
• Minimum 2 years of experience with working with computer programing language (examples/ Python, Rust, C++, and/or MATLAB) 

Nice to Have 

• Experience designing and manufacturing flexure-guided mechanisms that provide deterministic constraint, low-friction motion, high repeatability, and controlled stiffness across translational and rotational degrees of freedom.
• Experience designing voice-coil or piezo driven mechanisms and methods for elegantly integrating positional feedback.  
• Experience with electronic enclosure packaging of printed circuit boards for space applications.
• Direct experience developing fine-pointing and line-of-sight stabilization solutions for payloads such as optical communication, EO/IR sensors, antennas, or telescopes 
• Perform detailed mechanical analysis (FEA, tolerance stack-up, kinematic modeling, vibration/shock analysis) to ensure performance under extreme environments (thermal vacuum, high-g during launch, vibration and jitter)
• Experience collaborating with electrical, controls, and optical engineers to close multi-disciplinary performance loops (pointing accuracy, jitter, settling time, bandwidth)
• Create and maintain detailed CAD models, drawings, and BOMS (NX preferred)
• Experience leading prototyping, assembly, integration and test activities, including environmental qualification testing
• Detailed knowledge and experience implementing control loops for mechanism angle utilizing both feed forward and closed loop sensors (PID, adaptive, model predictive MPC)
• Deep knowledge of high-resolution encoders, resolvers, gyros/IMUS/SIRU for space applications
• Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for the design and qualification of in-space Moving Mechanism Assemblies 
   

Compensation and Benefits:  

• Base salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000 + equity in the company 
• Salary and level 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.