Principal Vehicle & Mission Operations 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

From day one, you'll be hands-on with our integrated satellite-level test campaign, diving deep into the K2 bus and laying the foundation for what comes next. Within your first few months, you'll help define how we operate our first mission – shaping the tools, systems, and philosophy behind Mission Operations. As we move toward launch, you'll be at the heart of it all.

Over the following year, your impact will grow: evolving our playbook from that first mission, scaling it to support multi-satellite operations, and ultimately pioneering the systems needed for full constellation control. The path to operating dozens—or hundreds—of satellites will be yours to help chart. The success of our constellations will depend on the foundations you help build.

Responsibilities

• Define and operationalize our Mission operations concept for the first satellite mission, including procedures, tools, and real-time support systems

• Develop telemetry monitoring strategies, fault response frameworks, and command plans for pre-launch, LEOP, and nominal operations

• Collaborate closely with systems, software, and hardware teams to ensure operational readiness across all spacecraft subsystems

• Drive the roadmap for mission operations tooling, ground segment workflows, and long-term constellation management

• Serve as a key operator during on-orbit operations, responsible for real-time decision-making and coordination

• Operate spacecraft (interpret telemetry, send commands) during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and during pre-launch operations

• Interface with customers to scope testing performed on their payloads, based on expected functions and failure modes of interest

• Assess risks associated with different integration and test approaches, justify test reductions and optimize vehicle build/test flows for at-rate production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline

• 10+ years of experience in an operations/integration/automation engineering role including 4 years of direct experience operating satellites on-orbit

• Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing

• Familiarity with mission operations concepts such as LEOP, telemetry, commanding, fault protection, and anomaly resolution

• Experience building or contributing to custom tooling for telemetry, analysis, data pipelines, or operational dashboards

• Background in designing or scaling operational architectures for fleets or constellations

• Experience with scripting or automation tools (e.g. Python, Rust)

• Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Nice to Have

• Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds

• Experience working with GAaaS providers.

• Experience with Linux systems

• Experience managing contractual interfaces (e.g. customer, launch vehicle)

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $180,000 - $210,000 + 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.