Head of Solar

Mundi; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles is seeking a Head of Solar to lead the solar engineering efforts. You will build and scale the Solar Engineering organization to meet ambitious targets for cost, schedule, and reliability across various challenging missions. The ideal candidate brings over 8 years of experience in mechanical and electromechanical design, along with proven team leadership skills. You will drive solar hardware design, establish systems for high-rate production, and represent the engineering function at executive levels. A competitive salary range of $200,000 - $250,000 with equity is offered.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in mechanical and/or electromechanical design in solar or electro-mechanical systems.
• 4+ years of experience leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams and managing managers.
• Ability to own an entire complex engineering function through its phases.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the Solar Engineering organization across various disciplines.
• Own the solar hardware technical baseline from design to production.
• Collaborate with teams to establish best practices for hardware design and manufacturing.

Skills

Mechanical design

Electromechanical systems

Team leadership

Stakeholder management

CAD software

FEA software

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or relevant engineering discipline

Job description

The Role

Solar power isn’t a subsystem at K2, it’s the capability that makes everything else possible. Our arrays allow us to operate at power levels no satellite has ever sustained, across the most demanding orbits in the solar system. Getting that right, at scale, is one of the most consequential engineering challenges in the company.

As Head of Solar, you’ll own it entirely. From early-stage technology development and module innovation through design maturation, manufacturing, test, and on-orbit performance – the solar array program is yours to build and lead. You will grow a cross-functional organization spanning design, analysis, manufacturing, and integration, and set the technical direction and operational cadence needed to meet our most ambitious cost, schedule, and reliability targets.

The missions we’re building toward are unlike anything the industry has flown: extreme radiation environments, multi-year lifetimes, and production volumes that demand manufacturing infrastructure built for rate and not one-off heroics. This is a rare opportunity to define what world‑class solar engineering looks like inside a vertically integrated space company, and to build the team and systems that make it real.

Responsibilities

• Build, scale, and lead the Solar Engineering organization across design, manufacturing, process, and automation disciplines
• Own the solar hardware technical baseline end-to-end: from array and module design through process qualification, tooling and automation infrastructure, and flight‑ready production delivery
• Take hardware and mechanisms from conceptual design through qualification to on‑orbit operations, including hands‑on testing, analysis, and iterative design refinement
• Identify and invest in transformative technologies that unlock step‑change improvements in rate, reliability, and unit economics
• Set the strategic direction for how solar hardware is designed and manufactured at scale, establishing the systems, processes, and standards that enable high‑rate production
• Collaborate with a cross‑functional team to establish product requirements, company processes, and best practices for hardware design and manufacturing
• Represent Solar Engineering at the executive level driving alignment on technical direction, risk, and program execution

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
• 8+ years of experience with mechanical and/or electromechanical design and analysis in solar or electro‑mechanical systems
• 4+ years of experience building and leading large, multi‑disciplinary engineering teams including managing managers and developing senior ICs across multiple functional areas
• Demonstrated ability to own a complex engineering function end‑to‑end through major program phases, from development and design iteration through production ramp and sustained delivery
• Executive‑level communication and stakeholder management skills
• Experience with CAD or FEA software packages

Nice to Have

• Direct experience leading solar array engineering for space applications, spanning design, module interconnect processes, module lamination, integrated PVA construction, and flight array integration
• Demonstrated background scaling a multi‑disciplinary engineering organization from early‑stage development to full‑rate production in a high‑reliability or aerospace environment
• Hands‑on background in robotics, vision‑guided assembly, or electromechanical controls for manufacturing applicationsExperience designing, building, and testing moving mechanical assemblies for aerospace applications (satellite mechanical systems, payloads, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and/or aircraft structures and mechanisms)
• Experience with NASA-STD-5017, SMC-S-016, and GSFC-STD-7000 for the design and qualification of in‑space Moving Mechanism Assemblies
• Experience with the practical application of GD&T
• Independent and self‑motivated mindset, with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills across disciplines

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $250,000 + 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

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and certain protected individuals. 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.