Lead Mission Payload Engineer - National Security Space

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles is seeking a Principal Mission Payload Engineer for National Security Programs. You will serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners as we integrate advanced payload capabilities onto the satellite bus platform, supporting the full program lifecycle from proposal through on-orbit operations.

The role requires strong multi-disciplinary engineering skills, hands-on experience, and excellent communication to collaborate with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience working in the aerospace or space industry, working with spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads.
• 2+ years of technical project management and/or systems engineering experience.
• Hands-on experience with developing, integrating and testing launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, software, and power interfaces for satellite payloads.

Responsibilities

• Manage payload integration across the full satellite lifecycle. Support initial proposals, design, development, integration, testing, launch and on-orbit commissioning.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for payload integration. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in design reviews, and ensure customer requirements are understood and met.
• Development, maintain, and negotiate payload interface control documentation. Define mechanical, electrical, software, power, and mission interfaces, ensuring clear technical alignment between payload and bus teams.
• Create and execute payload interface verification and validation plans. Develop testing strategies to ensure compliance with mission and interface requirements, and oversee final sell-off with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional integration efforts. Work closely with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams to ensure seamless payload integration.
• Assist in training new team members.
• Develop common process workflows and tools to make an efficient operation.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles is seeking a Principal Mission Payload Engineer for National Security Programs. You will serve as the primary technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners as we integrate advanced payload capabilities onto the satellite bus platform, supporting the full program lifecycle from proposal through on-orbit operations.

The role requires strong multi-disciplinary engineering skills, hands-on experience, and excellent communication to collaborate with