Principal Security Engineer, Operations

Principal Security Engineer, Operations

Los Angeles, CA

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

You will play a defining role in how K2 Space secures and scales its corporate operations. You'll architect the security foundations that protect our people, systems, and data while enabling the rapid development and operation of high-powered satellites. This role is about building security into the fabric of the company – across identity, endpoints, networks, and cloud platforms—so teams can move quickly and confidently. As K2 Space grows from early missions to sustained operations, your work will directly enable scale without friction. The security architecture and standards you establish will shape how the company operates and protects its most ambitious work for years to come.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal technical authority for corporate security engineering, defining the long-term security architecture that protects K2 Space's people, systems, and data
• Architect and govern security controls across corporate IT environments, including identity and access management, endpoint security, network security, SaaS platforms, and cloud services
• Establish and own enterprise security standards, reference architectures, and design patterns to ensure consistency, scalability, and defense-in-depth
• Lead the design and implementation of zero trust security principles across corporate operations, integrating identity, device posture, and network controls
• Act as the final technical escalation point for complex or high-impact security incidents, leading root-cause analysis and driving durable corrective actions
• Partner closely with IT, network, and infrastructure teams to embed security into systems design, operational processes, and automation workflows
• Influence executive leadership through clear risk assessments, threat modeling, and trade-off analysis tied to business impact and mission outcomes
• Evaluate, select, and govern security technologies and vendors; drive strategic adoption, optimization, and deprecation decisions
• Design and oversee security automation and detection capabilities, improving visibility, response time, and operational efficiency
• Ensure corporate systems meet regulatory, compliance, and contractual security requirements, translating controls into practical engineering implementations.
• Mentor senior and staff-level security and IT engineers, raising the organization's security engineering maturity and technical bar
• Represent corporate security engineering in cross-functional architecture reviews, audits, and enterprise technology planning forums

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in security operations or engineering roles preferably in a fast-paced startup or technology environment
• 3+ years of development experience with any modern programming language (including but not limited to Python, C++, Rust, Go)
• Knowledge of operating systems, current equipment and technologies, networking, security best practices, and system performance monitoring tools
• Comfortable working with mission critical and sensitive systems, with a sense of urgency appropriate with responsibilities
• Due to the high visibility of this position, excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills

Nice to Have

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in computer science or engineering
• Technical certifications (i.e., Network+, MCSE, Security+)

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $155,000 – $185,000 and equity in the company
• Salary 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.