Principal Network 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'll build the network foundations at the core of our mission that enable the development and operation of high-powered satellites – from our corporate offices, factory floor to test, launch, and on-orbit operations. You will define and evolve the architectures that connect people, systems, and missions to ensure resilient and high-performance networking across production labs, data centers, cloud environments, and global operations. In your first six months, you'll set the technical direction for how we design, secure, and operate networks that can keep pace with rapid hardware iteration and mission-critical timelines. As we scale your work will become a force multiplier – supporting increasingly powerful spacecraft, more complex missions, and the subsequent infrastructure required to deliver a new class of satellite technology. The networks you build will be foundational to how K2 Space designs, tests, launches, and operates the most capable satellites in the industry. Responsibilities Serve as the principal technical authority for enterprise networking, defining long-term network architecture and strategy aligned with business and security objectives Architect, design, and govern large-scale, highly available, and secure network environments across data centers, cloud, hybrid, and global WANs Own network reference architectures, standards, and design patterns, ensuring scalability, resiliency, performance, and operational consistency Lead the design and execution of complex initiatives such as data center modernization, cloud networking transformations, SD-WAN deployments, and zero-trust network architectures Evaluate network technologies, service providers, and vendors; make strategic recommendations on adoption, optimization, and deprecation Mentor senior and staff-level network engineers, raising the technical bar and building organizational depth Qualifications 8+ years of demonstrated experience in the Networking Architecture and Design, Network Implementation and Network Test Automation Strong foundation in IT network and systems methodology (analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and post-implementation support) In-depth knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, TCP/IP). Experience with logical design models (L2/L3, VPC, VDC, Datacenter Zones, Spanning Tree, VRF, VTP, VLANs, and cabling) Working technical knowledge of network control protocols (QoS, PfR, PoE, NTP, DHCP), network management protocols (CDP, FTP, TFTP, SNMP) Relevant certifications (e.g., CCNP, CCIE, ITIL Foundations v3, etc.) 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.