Solar Design 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

Critical to achieving K2's vision of deploying at scale across MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space are the solar arrays. As a Solar Engineer, you will contribute to the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays for some of the largest spacecraft ever flown. You'll work across technical domains; from module technology and electrical power systems to deployment mechanisms, structures, and production — learning from experienced engineers while taking on meaningful ownership of hardware from day one.

First 6 months: Support solar array subsystem development through analysis, component-level testing, and manufacturing process documentation.

First year: Own specific build and test activities for flight hardware, from assembly through acceptance testing.

First two years: Contribute to full lifecycle solar array development across multiple vehicle builds, developing expertise in both design and production.

Responsibilities

• Support the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems

• Assist in the development and maintenance of electrical performance degradation models across environment variations

• Execute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures and document results

• Collaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on integration activities and test campaigns

• Support design reviews with analysis products and test data

• Contribute to manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing

• Participate in on-orbit data review and anomaly investigation efforts

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field

• Internship in at least one of: photovoltaics, power systems, or materials characterization

• Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects

Nice to Have

• Internship or research experience with solar arrays or power systems for space applications

• Exposure to solar cell or module characterization techniques (IV curves, electroluminescence, flash testing)

• Familiarity with structural analysis tools (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools

• Familiarity with space environment effects on materials, including radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen

• Experience with CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and practical GD&T application

• Exposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, layup, or electromechanical assembly

• Python or MATLAB proficiency for data analysis

• Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 + equity in the company

• Salary and level 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.