Loads & Dynamics Engineer Los Angeles, CA

K2 Space; Mississippi; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a pioneering space startup that is redefining satellite technology. As part of a dynamic analysis team, you'll contribute to the development of high-powered spacecraft for groundbreaking missions. This role involves dynamic testing, software tool creation, and collaboration with design engineers to ensure reliable satellite performance. If you thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about space exploration, this is your chance to make a significant impact in a company at the forefront of the space industry. Your contributions will help shape the future of space development and exploration.

Benefits

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage

Life Insurance

Paid Parental Leave

Equity in the Company

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in dynamics from industry, research, or internships.
• Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering or physics fields required.

Responsibilities

• Own dynamic testing including analysis, sensor selection, and data processing.
• Develop physics models and create software tools for simulations.

Skills

Dynamics Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

Python Programming

Signal Processing

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Bachelor’s Degree in Physics

Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics

Tools

FEMAP

Nastran

Job description

K2 Space is building large, high-powered spacecraft for the next generation of space development. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Altimeter Capital, and many others ($180M raised to date), we intend to mass produce the highest-powered satellite platforms ever built for missions across LEO to Deep Space.

The rise of launch vehicles like Falcon 9 and Starship enables the move from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance. We believe this new era requires spacecraft with a fundamentally different design in order to fully utilize the massive rockets coming to market.

We’re a team that believes the future lies in building large, high-powered satellites that can handle multiple orbits. This is a necessity if we ever want to develop the solar system, and become 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 groundbreaking Series B space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

As a member of our growing analysis team you will help own the successful derivation of loads and environments for K2 Space satellites during ground transportation, launch, deployment, and on-orbit operation. You will build software tools and establish simulation workflows to support a variety of analyses in frequency and time domains. Within your first couple of months you will devise development testing to correlate physics models with measured data. You will also own qualification and acceptance testing of satellite hardware at the component and vehicle level. As we continue to refine our designs and scale for the future you will be responsible for delivering well-derived requirements and engineering insights to make reliable and mass-producible spacecraft.

Responsibilities

1. Own dynamic testing from start to finish including pre-test analysis, sensor selection & installation, testing, data analysis, signal processing and model correlation.
2. Develop physics models using finite element analysis or custom software.
3. Create software tools to support data processing and simulation frameworks.
4. Collaborate with design engineers, analysts, and external customers to develop satellite products.
5. Apply first principles in developing frameworks for both dynamics and non-dynamics analyses.
6. Perform code reviews for simulation and analysis tools.
7. Utilize analysis and test to provide data-driven engineering guidance and decisions.
8. Write high quality technical documentation of test and simulations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or mathematics.

1+ years of work experience in dynamics either from industry, research, internships or academic projects.

Preferred Skills and Experience

1. Strong understanding of low and high frequency dynamics (vibration, shock, modal testing).
2. Experience with testing and measurements.
3. Experience with finite element analysis software (e.g. FEMAP, Nastran).
4. Software development experience in Python.
5. Strong knowledge of digital signal processing, statistics, and structural mechanics.
6. Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction.
7. Excellent communication skills of analysis and test insights.
8. Ability to work in a fast-paced, unstructured start-up environment.

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $110,000 - $140,000 + equity in the company. Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level. Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks.

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 by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

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.