Materials & Process Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in space development is seeking a motivated engineer to tackle complex materials challenges for satellite systems. You will collaborate across teams to drive material selections and testing, ensuring successful satellite operations. This role offers the chance to innovate in a fast-paced environment while contributing to groundbreaking projects in space technology.

Benefits

Unlimited paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Equity in the company

Qualifications

• 2+ years of industry experience in materials science and engineering.
• Familiarity with key M&P engineering disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Responsible metallics M&P engineer for satellite systems.
• Research and select materials for various applications.
• Create test plans and maintain M&P requirements.

Skills

Materials Science

Engineering Principles

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, materials, physics, aerospace

Tools

Welding

Heat treatment

Plating

Surface modification processes

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

You will solve the complex challenges for the materials of our satellite and ground infrastructure designs in a rapidly innovative environment. Collaborating across the engineering and production teams, you will own the success of the materials selections and their implementations that will be key to our successful satellite operation. In your first 6 months, you will define product requirements, help inform material and design trades, perform preliminary and detailed analysis and testing on materials, drive material test campaigns, and develop a materials database and usage list. In your first two years, you will validate your decisions through prototype iterations and build and qualify flight hardware while we scale in volume.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Responsible metallics M&P engineer for our satellite bus structures, mechanisms, thermal, electrical, and solar array systems

• Research, trade, and select conventional and novel materials and processes for various novel applications

• Identify qualification criteria, test envelopes, and characterization campaigns

• Author, implement, and maintain M&P requirements and processes, technical specifications, and engineering work standards

• Drive creation of materials library as well as our Materials Identification Usage List

• Create test plans, performance hands-on material tests, and process data

• Continually own and refine sub-system deliverable schedules throughout development and production

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, materials, physics, aerospace or other relevant engineering discipline

• 2+ years of industry experience demonstrating a strong foundation of materials science and engineering principles

Nice to Have

• Experience with materials implementation in the development lifecycle of designing, building, and testing mechanical assemblies for aerospace applications

• Deep understanding of aluminums, composites, stainless steels, adhesive systems, and thermal materials

• Familiarity with the below manufacturing processes:

– Welding and wire bonding

– Metallic primary production processes

– Heat treatment, plating, conversion coatings, and surface modification processes

– Thermal coating, interface materials and applications

• Familiarity with key M&P engineering disciplines, such as fracture mechanics, corrosion control, fluid compatibility, descriptive & inferential statistics, and failure analysis

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $160,000 + 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.

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.