Principal Solar Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description Job Description 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 define how solar array hardware is built at K2 – shaping the vision, architecture, and technical foundation that turns bold ideas into flight-ready reality at scale. This is a role at the frontier, where entirely new classes of hardware move from concept to orbit, and where your decisions expand the boundaries of what can be designed, built, and deployed in space. Operating across the full lifecycle, you will embed manufacturing into the DNA of every product, ensuring that what is imagined can be realized with precision, speed, and unwavering reliability. You will take on the most complex and ambiguous challenges, breaking through fundamental constraints in yield, throughput, and scalability to unlock step-change performance. As the technical authority for solar manufacturing, you will set direction, raise the standard for excellence, and develop engineers across the organization, building not just systems, but a culture capable of sustained innovation and execution. Your impact will be lasting, creating the foundations that enables flight hardware to be produced faster, perform better, and scale to meet missions that redefine what humanity can achieve in space. Responsibilities Define and own the manufacturing strategy for K2's solar hardware including solar modules, photovoltaic arrays, and integrated wing assemblies Drive solar array manufacturability at the architecture and concept level, partnering with Design leadership before requirements are locked to embed manufacturability from day one Own the manufacturing technical baseline from process qualification records, tooling design standards, and assembly process specifications Lead the technical response to the most complex manufacturing anomalies, non-conformances, and systemic build issues, including cross-program root cause and corrective action Identify, evaluate, and champion transformative manufacturing technologies across automation, advanced metrology, novel bonding or lamination processes Serve as a technical mentor and force multiplier for the broader Solar Manufacturing Engineering team Represent manufacturing engineering in executive program reviews, customer readiness reviews, design reviews, and build reviews Qualifications Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials or other relevant engineering discipline 10+ years of experience in a high-volume manufacturing, production, or hands-on engineering environment Recognized technical authority in solar manufacturing and photovoltaic array integration processes Demonstrated history of shaping product designs at the architecture level through DFM influence, not just late-stage redlines Experience owning manufacturing technical baselines through major design overhauls or production transitions Proven ability to lead and technically develop other engineers, and to influence outcomes across Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production without direct authority Nice to Have Experience scaling solar or high-reliability electromechanical hardware from early development to full-rate production Background in advanced manufacturing automation, including robotic assembly or vision-guided systems Prior work on space-grade solar arrays, deployment mechanisms, or flight power systems Familiarity with reliability physics, radiation effects on photovoltaic materials, or space environment qualification testing Compensation and Benefits: Base salary range for this role is $175,000 – $200,000 + 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.