Electrical Manufacturing Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

In-office HQ Torrance

Job summary

K2 Space is hiring a manufacturing-focused engineer to lead avionics assembly development, tooling, and production flow design for high-rate satellite production. You will collaborate with design teams to ensure manufacturability and drive DFx across PCBs, PCBA, and machined components.

Join a fast-growing, ITAR-compliant space company with in-office work at our Torrance, CA headquarters and a path toward scalable, high-rate production of advanced satellite systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline.
• 3+ years in high-volume, rapid production environment (manufacturing, integration, or design).
• Experience with IPC standards for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection.
• Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds.

Responsibilities

• Provide design-for-excellence guidance across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies.
• Develop manufacturing systems for avionics electronic assemblies and sub-assemblies.
• Create tools and processes to support new manufacturing technologies, including MES software.
• Demonstrate advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes and improve manufacturability.

Skills

Design guidance

Manufacturing systems

DFX guidance

PCB/PCBA knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering

Tools

NX CAD

MES software

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 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 Role

Partnering with design engineersearly on in theprocess, you willensure manufacturability, build the first prototype, design the build flowand fixturing, andfinalizethe processfor transitionto production.Once transitioned, you will have the opportunity to makea positive impact scaling production to meet K2'sever-growingdemand.You will test out new techniques for manufacturingcomplex PCBAs,harnessing, andintegrated electronics systems.You'llalso partner closely with mechanical teams on the electromechanical assemblies and machined components these electronics integrate into.In your first 6 months you will develop manufacturing methods and tooling forintegrated avionics systems, define manufacturing flows forelectronicsubsystems, and collaborate with design teamstoprovideDesign-for-Excellence(DFX)guidance across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and higher-level assemblies..In your first year you will implement these advanced manufacturing techniques on flight hardware andscalethe technology you develop tohigh-rateproduction.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with designengineerstoprovide guidance to design engineers across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and assemblies forinitialdesign, flight hardware, and tooling
• Develop innovative manufacturing systems forspacecraftelectronicassemblies, includingelectromechanical sub-assemblies,andharnessing.
• Create custom toolsand processes to support the manufacturing technologies you create , including Manufacturing Execution System(MES)software
• Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams tocontinuouslyimprove the manufacturability of the designs
• Develop the subassembly build flow anditerat e to create an efficient production flow for the satellite and ensure thatbuild times align with current takt times
• Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical,aero space, or other relevant engineering discipline
• 3+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing,integration,and/ordesignengineering role
• Demonstrated results with product development and/or process improvements
• Familiarity with IPC standards (e.g., IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, J-STD-001) for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection
• Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds
• Experience designing and implementing technologies for avionics subassembly manufacturing includingPCBA assembly,wire harnessmanufacturingand PCBA/mechanical enclosure assembly
• Experience providingDFXguidance to design teams across PCBs, PCBAs, machined components, and mechanical assemblies
• Experience withGD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing) and mechanical assembly drawings, with the ability to review and provide feedback onelectrical andmechanical designs
• Familiaritywith conformal coating processes (selective spray, dip, or brush application) and associated inspection/rework methods for PCBAs, per standards such as IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1

Nice to Have

• Strong understanding ofIPC standards (e.g., IPC-A-610, IPC-A-600, J-STD-001) for PCB/PCBA workmanship and inspection
• Experience with conformal coating processes (selective spray, dip, or brush application) and associated inspection/rework methods for PCBAs, per standards such as IPC-CC-830 and NASA-STD-8739.1
• Experience designing tooling forelectromechanical subassembliesand electroni cs
• Demonstrated experience developing production processes from the ground up , including driving design improvements for manufacturing
• Experience working closely with technicians and build tooling
• Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such assoldering standards,torque specifications,and quality assurance standards
• Familiarity with CAD software (NX or equivalent) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Experience working with MES to set upthefoundation for procedure creation anddocumentingnon-conformances

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is$100,000-$140,000 +equity in the company
• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limitedto: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 otherperks

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 by22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITARhere.

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.

We value in-person collaboration, and this role requires an in-office presence at our Headquarters in Torrance, California.

As set forth in K2 Space ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.