Mechanical Engineering Supply Chain Lead

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Unlimited paid time off

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Supply Chain Lead. The role involves managing the supply chain for mechanical parts, focusing on procurement and quality control in the aerospace sector.

Ideal candidates will have over 3 years of relevant experience, including technical procurement and supplier management. A comprehensive benefits package is included, with a base salary ranging from $90,000 to $120,000.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain management or engineering in the aerospace industry.
• Experience managing suppliers in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing efforts on commodities such as bearings, motors, and encoders.
• Manage the Bill of Materials for all owned mechanical assemblies.
• Develop and manage the supplier base for satellite subsystems.

Skills

Supply chain management

Technical procurement

Project management

Quality control practices

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant engineering discipline

Job description

Mechanical Engineering Supply Chain Lead

K2 is building the largest and highest‑power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors and an additional $500M in signed contracts, we’re mass‑producing the highest‑power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space. With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we’re Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization.

The Role

As a Mechanical Engineering Supply Chain Lead, you will be responsible for finding, building, and managing the quality of parts in our mechanical supply chain, with a special focus on mechanical and solar blanket assemblies. Key skills include technical procurement of mechanical and structural hardware and Bill of Material (BOM) management for owned assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Technical Procurement
  • Lead sourcing efforts on commodities such as bearings, motors, encoders, consumables, and adhesives in support of mechanical and structural assemblies
  • Negotiate contracts for highly complex components with specialized suppliers
  • Provide design for manufacturability feedback for new mechanical designs
• Material Planning and Process Development
  • Manage the Bill of Materials for all owned mechanical and structural assemblies
  • Develop planning processes for improved mechanical assembly demand accuracy
  • Develop new software tools and processes to support better supply‑chain process controls in areas such as quality clause deployment, logistics, and inventory management
  • Lead Clear to Builds with engineering to ensure assembly milestones are completed to meet critical company deadlines
• Supplier Development and Management
  • Develop and manage the supplier base to support ongoing development across satellite subsystems from NPI through production phases
  • Act as the primary interface between suppliers and internal customers including supplier onboarding, evaluation, negotiation, and project management
  • Run quarterly business reviews with strategic suppliers to ensure consistent improvement across the supply chain

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in supply chain management or engineering in the aerospace industry working on mechanism components
• 3+ years of technical experience with motors, bearings, and encoders or in mechanical assemblies
• Experience managing suppliers in a fast‑paced environment
• 2+ years in production management or production planning
• Strong understanding of quality control practices such as issue tickets
• Ability to collaborate in a cross‑functional environment with engineering, production, and finance
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Nice to Have

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, finance, mechanical, aerospace, mathematics, or another relevant engineering discipline
• Experience procuring additional commodities such as machined components, consumables, heat pipes, and capital equipment
• 3+ years of technical procurement experience
• 3+ years in a new product introduction environment
• Prior experience with space mechanisms and structures
• Bill of Material Management and Planning experience
• Experience implementing AS9100 or completing AS9100 audits
• Experience reading and interpreting technical engineering drawings
• Experience working in a mechanical production facility

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range: $90,000–$120,000 + equity in the company
• Salary determined by knowledge, skills, education, and experience
• Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and other perks

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals. The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including ITAR. The person must therefore 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 Statement

K2 Space is an equal‑opportunity employer; employment is based on merit, competence, and qualifications and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin or ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.