Lead Space Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space Corporation in California is seeking a Senior Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer to help scale high‑volume production of spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators and gimbals, from prototyping to flight hardware. You will design and optimize tooling, lead manufacturability efforts, and collaborate across teams to enable reliable production at scale.

The role focuses on developing manufacturing methods, defining flows for mechanisms subsystems, building test articles, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical, mechanical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline.
• 6+ years of experience in a high volume, rapid production environment in a manufacturing, integration, and/or design engineering role.
• Demonstrated track record of leading product development and/or process improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of NASA-STD-5017 and AIAA S-114, and familiarity with environmental qualification standards (SMC-S-016, GSFC-STD-7000).
• Strong understanding of how to set up and scale a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds.
• Deep understanding of mechanisms subassembly manufacturing technologies (rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, reaction wheel assemblies).
• Strong understanding of DFX principles with guidance across mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and mechanical assembly drawings.

Responsibilities

• Lead design-for-excellence (DFX) guidance to design teams with the Mechanisms Engineering team providing design guidance for mechanisms, machined components, and assemblies for initial design, flight hardware, and tooling.
• Lead the development of innovative manufacturing systems for spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators, separation mechanisms, gimbals, and reaction wheel assemblies.
• Create custom tools and 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 to continuously improve the manufacturability of the designs
• Build test articles and support the Mechanisms Engineering team’s development and qualification test campaigns, iterating on hardware and processes as test results come in
• Develop the subassembly build flow and iterate to create an efficient production flow for the satellite and ensure that build times align with current takt times
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior manufacturing engineers and technicians on mechanisms manufacturing best practices
• Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to lead R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Skills

DFX

Leadership

Mentoring

Manufacturing processes

Education

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

Tools

NX CAD

MES systems

Job description

K2 Space Corporation in California is seeking a Senior Mechanisms Manufacturing Engineer to help scale high‑volume production of spacecraft mechanisms, including rotational actuators and gimbals, from prototyping to flight hardware. You will design and optimize tooling, lead manufacturability efforts, and collaborate across teams to enable reliable production at scale.

The role focuses on developing manufacturing methods, defining flows for mechanisms subsystems, building test articles, and