Manager, Machining & Fabrication

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Paid time off and parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles is looking for a hands-on Manager, Machining and Fabrication to lead the machine shop, development fabrication shop, CMM, and spacecraft paint teams. You will own shop performance end to end, including safety, staffing, layout, and what we build in-house, as we scale to high-rate production.

You will oversee scheduling and delivery of precision machined parts, welded assemblies, prototypes, tooling, fixtures, and GSE, collaborating with Engineering, Production, and

Qualifications

• 4+ years of direct people leadership in a fast-paced machining or fabrication environment.
• 8+ years hands-on machining, fabrication, or precision manufacturing in high-volume aerospace/defense environments.
• Experience leading multiple work centers in high-mix, low-volume development or quick-turn environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a talented team of machining, fabrication, CMM, and spacecraft paint work centers.
• Ensure safety, quality, and turn-time are upheld by all team members.
• Manage schedule and delivery of machined parts, welded assemblies, prototype hardware, tooling, fixtures, and GSE for development, production, and test.
• Set daily priorities and adapt quickly to changing engineering needs.
• Identify and remove constraints blocking hardware delivery (equipment, resources, material, process).
• Drive capability expansion including equipment selection, capital investment, and make/buy decisions.
• Support buildout of new manufacturing areas with layout, infrastructure, and equipment installation in partnership with Engineering, Production, and Facilities.
• Establish metrics for throughput, schedule adherence, utilization, equipment readiness, and quality.
• Serve as site lead coordinating with Facilities, Design Engineering, and Test on shared resources and readiness.

Skills

People leadership

Machining / fabrication

Multiple work centers

Tools

CMM

GD&T

AS9100

MES/ERP systems

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.

The Role

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has run a fast-moving shop and wants to scale the next one. As Manager, Machining and Fabrication you’ll lead the machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection (CMM), and spacecraft paint teams. These teams deliver K2’s flight parts, prototype hardware, tooling, fixtures, and GSE on timelines too tight to wait on outside suppliers. When a design changes overnight or a test campaign needs a fixture tomorrow, your team makes it happen.

You’ll serve as site production leader for our new K2 hardware development and manufacturing facility, accountable for safety, facilities coordination, and day-to-day operations. You’ll own shop performance end to end and make the calls on equipment, staffing, layout, and what we build in-house. As we scale from development spacecraft to high-rate production, you’ll build the shop, team, and systems needed to keep up.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a talented team of specialized work centers including machine shop, development fabrication shop, precision inspection (CMM), and spacecraft paint
• Ensure a strong sense of safety, quality, and turn timeis communicated and upheld by all members of your team
• Manage the schedule and delivery of precision machined parts, welded assemblies, prototype hardware, tooling, fixtures, and GSE for development, production, and test
• Set daily prioritiesfor the team, adjusting quickly and effectively when engineering needs change
• Identify and remove constraints that block hardware delivery, whether they’re equipment, resources, material, or process
• Drive capability expansion, including equipment selection, capital investment, new processes, and make vs. buy decisions
• Support the buildout of new manufacturing and development areas, including layout, infrastructure, and equipment installation in partnership with Engineering, Production, and Facilities
• Establish metrics for throughput, schedule adherence, utilization, equipment readiness, and quality to drive continuous improvement
• Serve as site lead for the building, coordinating with Facilities, Design Engineering, and Test on shared resources and operational readiness

Qualifications

• 4+ years of direct people leadership in a fast-paced machining or fabrication environment
• 8+ years of hands-on experience in machining, fabrication, or precision manufacturing in a high volume, rapid environment in aerospace, defense, or complex hardware manufacturing industries
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple work centers in a high-mix, low-volume development or quick-turn environment

Nice to Have

• Demonstrated success leading from the floor in a fast-moving manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with CNC machining, fabrication processes, and interpreting engineering drawings, including GD&T
• Experience with CMM and dimensional inspection
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality systems, NCRs, and FAI (AS9102)
• Experience with MES/ERP systems
• Background in capacity modeling, shop layout, and capital equipment justification
• Track record of making fast decisions with incomplete information and owning the outcome
• Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical production and test milestones
• Must be comfortable spending significant time on the shop floor daily
• Must be able to travel occasionally to suppliers, test facilities, or other company locations as required

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $150,000 - $190,000 + 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

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.

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.