Principal Radiation Effects Engineer

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.

You willplay acriticalrole inthe qualification,implementation and reliability of our satellite’s avionics hardware in the most intense radiation environments of space. You will own the rapid development of component,boardand subsystem level radiation test setups that you will execute at national labs across the country, while growing the team’s capabilities through test rack and automation development to keep up withourgrowing business needs. Through detailed analysis and reporting of your test results, you will inform hardware designers and mission planners of how to confidentlyoperateour satellites to meet our Commercial,National Security and science customer’s needs.

You willdemonstrateexcellenttest engineering fundamentals andahigh levelof attention to detail to ensureour hardware and test capabilities are second to none. Prior experience in radiation effects testing is preferred but not required; strong electrical lab skills and a willingness to learn are essential.

• Lead cradle-to-graveradiation test campaigns(SEE, TID,DDD and materials) through coordinating test facilities/dates, designingelectricaltest setups,writing test procedures,executing tests, and documenting results
• Design, fabricate, and assembleproductionqualitytest racks, basic PCBAs, and cableharnesses
• Troubleshoot, repair, andmodifyelectronic components, assemblies, parts, and systems
• Perform tests andcheckouts usingstandard lab equipment such as programmable power supplies, ohmmeters, oscilloscopes, DMM, SMU, logic analyzers and DAQs.
• Develop basic test automation,datacollectionand analysisscripts in Python
• Ownthescheduling and prioritization of component, board and subsystem radiation testing to support the hardware and vehicle lifecycle
• Flash firmware and perform software loadverificationsunderthedirection of engineering team members
• Build fixtures and toolingusingan array of hand, power, and pneumatic mechanical tools

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related science, technology, engineeringfieldor 3+ years of professional experience assembling, integrating, and testing electrical components,assembliesand/orhardware in the aerospace industry
• 10+ years of experience in the radiation effects testing (TID, SEE, proton, heavy ion, gamma, neutron, etc.)
• Ability to set up and run common electrical measurements (voltage, current, timing, digital I/O)
• Experience with test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, SMUs, function generators, or logic analyzers
• Experience creating tools to generate and analyze radiation environments
• Experience managing radiation risk and program requirement track

• Familiarity withdesigning circuits and setups aroundcommoncomponentssuch astransistors,regulators, digital/analogcomponentsand RF devices
• Familiarity of radiation effects on semiconductor devices, including how to mitigate common…