Principal Hardware Reliability Engineer

Principal Hardware Reliability EngineerLos Angeles, CAK2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion 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 in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward 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 high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.The RoleAs a technical authority on hardware reliability, you will own the development and execution of reliability strategies that enable our spacecraft to meet ambitious vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability. You will define reliability requirements, build and apply advanced semi-empirical modeling techniques, and drive testing programs that identify and mitigate risks early in development. This role sits at the intersection of design, test, systems, and manufacturing, where you will integrate reliability models with program risk management and flow down clear, actionable requirements across subsystems. You will lead root cause investigations on critical hardware issues, mentor engineers across the reliability function, and play a key role in shaping K2's reliability strategy as we scale toward high-volume satellite production. The ideal candidate is a technically strong, hands-on engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and is excited to build the reliability foundation for a new generation of large, capable spacecraft.ResponsibilitiesOwn the development and maintenance of top-level reliability requirements, models, and allocations across the full spacecraft and constellation portfolio to meet vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availabilityDefine and drive HALT/HASS strategies, accelerated testing plans, and reliability growth programs across spacecraft development and production, including test standardization, lot acceptance derivations, and success-run demonstration analysis to confirm campaigns meet flight-life requirementsEstablish and evolve reliability modelling frameworks, including Weibull and Kaplan-Meier analysis, accelerated failure time (AFT) modeling (e.g., Norris-Landzberg, Arrhenius), Monte Carlo simulations, and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), reconciling QTP, ATP, HALT, HASS, and flight telemetry data onto a single wear-out modelIntegrate reliability analyses with program risk management and drive actionable insights that influence design, manufacturing, and test decisionsFlow down reliability requirements to subsystems, including margins, screening levels, derating guidelines, and test requirements, and ensure consistent application across programsLead root cause investigations on critical hardware failures and drive systemic corrective actions that improve product robustness and mission reliabilityCollaborate closely with design, systems, test, and manufacturing teams to embed reliability principles early in the development process and optimize for mass productionMentor and develop junior and mid-level engineers on reliability methods, analysis techniques, and best practices, while helping shape the long-term technical direction and growth of the reliability function at K2 SpaceServe as a technical authority on reliability across multiple spacecraft programs, advising leadership on risk trade-offs and reliability strategyOwn FRACAS and test-effectiveness tracking to close the loop between failure data, corrective actions, and reliability predictionsPartner with responsible engineers to implement telemetry and instrumentation for degradation observability on flight and test hardwareAdvance degradation-based and Bayesian reliability methods, including Gamma/Wiener process degradation models and MCMC-based hierarchical pooling, to extend the reliability framework beyond binary pass/fail testingQualificationsS. degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, or other related discipline8+ years of experience in reliability engineering, hardware testing, failure analysis, or related fields in the space, automotive, semiconductor, or other high-reliability industriesNice to HaveS. or PhD in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, or other related disciplineExperience developing and executing life testing methods, including accelerated life testing (ALT) and reliability growth programsExperience with accelerated failure time (AFT) modeling, including Norris-Landzberg and Arrhenius acceleration models, for translating ground test severity to flight conditionsExperience reconciling multiple ground test sources (QTP, ATP, HALT, HASS) and flight telemetry onto a single reliability model, including distinguishing workmanship/infant-mortality failure modes from wear-out mechanismsFamiliarity with success-run and zero-failure demonstration statistics, and sample-size/DOE methods for reliability test planningExposure to degradation-based reliability modeling (Gamma or Wiener process models, accelerated degradation testing) as a complement to binary pass/fail Weibull analysisExperience with thermal, vibration, and TVAC qualification and acceptance testing approachesExperience with EEE components (Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical), including semiconductor devices and packaging technologies, in high-reliability or space applicationsExperience building reliability prediction models (Weibull, Kaplan-Meier, Monte Carlo, reliability block diagrams) and performing system-level analyses (FTA, PRA)Strong foundation in statistical modeling and data analysis, with experience developing custom models for engineering or production data. Experience with Bayesian hierarchical modeling and MCMC tools (e.g., PyMC, Stan, NumPyro) for reliability parameter estimation is a plusProficiency in programming languages (such as Python or C++) for data analysis, statistical modeling, and reliability calculationsFamiliarity with derating practices, Design for Excellence (DFX), and requirements flow-down in complex hardware systemsExperience with Physics of Failure (PoF) methodologies, including Sherlock or similar modeling tools, and identification of dominant failure mechanisms in electronic hardware and EEE componentsExperience with reliability growth tracking or working toward probability of success / availability targets on vehicles or constellationsStrong cross-functional communication skills and ability to clearly present technical findings to both engineering and leadership teamsExperience in a fast-paced startup or new-space environment with high ownership and broad scopeFamiliarity with FRACAS and test-effectiveness tracking processesCompensation and Benefits:Base salary range for this role is $185,000 - $220,000 + equity in the companySalary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience levelComprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perksIf 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 ComplianceAs 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.