Principal Mechanisms Engineer

About the Company

K2 is building the largest and highest‑power satellite platforms ever produced, delivering unmatched capability across multiple orbits. With $450 million in venture capital and an additional $500 million in signed contracts, K2 is scaling up operations to launch satellites from LEO to deep space. The company is driven by a vision to build a Kardashev Type II civilization and to establish a leading company in space technology.

As a Principal Mechanisms Engineer, you will define how K2 designs, manufactures, tests, integrates, and deploys coarse pointing assemblies for large aperture optical payloads. You will work across the optical, bus, and production teams to deliver precision, high‑volume systems that enable missions from Earth‑orbit to deep space.

• Design, tolerancing, and line‑of‑sight error budgeting for coarse pointing assemblies.
• Develop environmental test and qualification plans and ground‑ and in‑flight performance validation plans.
• Establish supply‑chain and high‑volume manufacturing plans for coarse pointing modules.
• Collaborate with the optical and satellite bus teams to determine optimal requirements.
• Own the top‑level CAD assembly for the optical payloads and work closely with the satellite structures team to determine placement on the bus.
• Prepare design reviews and communicate expectations to hardware, software, test, and manufacturing teams.
• Continuously refine program deliverables and schedules throughout development and production.
• Evaluate and select manufacturing equipment for specialty processes.
• Partner with production to develop work instructions, in‑process checkouts, and end‑of‑line tests to ensure successful builds.

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of hands‑on laboratory or work experience in optomechanics, electromechanical mechanisms, or electrical/mechanical design and testing.
• Deep experience with CAD and FEA software (e.g., NX, Simcenter, FEMAP, Hypermesh).
• Minimum 3+ years of experience working with at least one computer programming language (Python, Rust, C++, MATLAB).

• Experience specifying and trading precision optical mechanisms and validating pointing performance at the system level.
• Deep knowledge of 2‑axis gimbal design for space applications (bearing selection, preload, structural design, drive mechanisms, angular run‑out, long‑life operation in vacuum).
• Experience closing line‑of‑sight performance budgets through analysis, controls integration, and testing (structural dynamics, tolerance stack‑up, jitter analysis, pointing calibration, environmental qualification).
• Familiarity with precision actuation, sensing, and control technologies for space mechanisms (encoders, resolvers, gyros/IMUs, feed forward/closed‑loop control).
• Experience designing harness routing, cable wraps, slip rings, and cable‑management for rotating mechanisms, including optical fiber routing.
• Experience leading mechanisms through the full product life cycle (requirements, design trades, prototyping, assembly/integration/test, production, flight validation).
• Experience contributing to spacecraft‑level alignment and calibration planning for optical pointing mechanisms.
• Experience with NASA‑STD‑5017, SMC‑S‑016, and GSFC‑STD‑7000 for the design and qualification of in‑space moving mechanism assemblies.

• Base salary range $175,000 – $200,000 plus equity.
• Benefits include paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, and paid parental leave.

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.