Ground Software Engineer

K2 is building the largest and highest‑power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450 M from leading investors, K2 is 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. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

Senior Software Engineer – Ground Software
. You will build the software used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads, scaling the mission platform from K2's Gravitas to multiple constellations. You will collaborate with Mission Operations, Flight Software, and external customers to define and deliver software that meets their payload needs. This role requires in‑person presence at our headquarters in Torrance, CA.

• Design and implement software that facilitates the build, test, and operations of K2's vehicles and customer payloads.
• Collaborate with Mission Operators and Engineers to identify and scope software solutions to complex technical and business problems.
• Facilitate software design reviews, architecture discussions, and code reviews to align stakeholders on technical direction.
• Work across our stack (Rust backend, Type Script/Vue frontend) to support development, test, and operations milestones.
• Support internal and external customers in an on‑call capacity as your software drives ground test activities and on‑orbit spacecraft operations.
• Mentor other engineers to build a strong team culture and software engineering practices.

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, or a STEM discipline, or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering.

• Experience working on space missions and/or the satellite ground segment.
• Experience with Rust or another statically‑typed backend programming language (Go, C++, Java, C#, Type Script).
• Experience with version control, continuous integration, build, deployment, and monitoring.
• Experience with SQL databases (Postgre
  
  SQL or similar).
• Experience designing and implementing event‑driven architectures.
• Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes.
• Experience with Web Sockets and/or Server‑Sent‑Events (SSE).
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and relevant certifications/standards (SOC 2, FedRAMP).
• Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, QUIC).
• Familiarity with data streaming technologies such as NATS, Pulsar, or similar.

• Base salary range: $123,000 – $150,000 plus equity.
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and additional perks.
• Competitive equity and growth opportunities within a high‑growth startup.

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 diverse team and non‑traditional career paths are welcomed.

Work is based in our headquarters in Torrance, CA. Remote work is allowed for the software team with the expectation of on‑site presence one week per month.

Access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations is part of this role. Therefore you must be a U.S. person as defined by ITAR, or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

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