Principal Hardware Reliability Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles seeks a hands-on reliability engineer to develop and implement reliability strategies for next-generation satellites. This role focuses on delivering robust hardware capable of operating in harsh space environments, with close collaboration across design, test, and manufacturing teams.

You will define reliability requirements, apply semi-empirical modeling, drive testing programs, and mentor engineers to ensure mission success while scaling toward high-volume production.

Qualifications

• Experience developing reliability requirements and allocations across spacecraft systems.
• Familiarity with HALT/HASS test practices and accelerated testing programs.
• Ability to mentor engineers and influence across design, test, and manufacturing teams.

Responsibilities

• Own reliability requirements and model development for spacecraft and constellation targets.
• Drive HALT/HASS strategies and reliability growth programs across development and production.
• Lead root-cause investigations and guide risk mitigation across subsystems.

Skills

Reliability engineering

System engineering

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

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.

With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward 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 high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.

The Role

As a technical authority on hardware reliability, you will own the development and execution of reliability strategies that enable our spacecraft to meet ambitious vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability. You will define reliability requirements, build and apply advanced semi-empirical modeling techniques, and drive testing programs that identify and mitigate risks early in development. This role sits at the intersection of design, test, systems, and manufacturing, where you will integrate reliability models with program risk management and flow down clear, actionable requirements across subsystems. You will lead root cause investigations on critical hardware issues, mentor engineers across the reliability function, and play a key role in shaping K2’s reliability strategy as we scale toward high-volume satellite production. The ideal candidate is a technically strong, hands‑on engineer who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment and is excited to build the reliability foundation for a new generation of large, capable spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Own the development and maintenance of top-level reliability requirements, models, and allocations across the full spacecraft and constellation portfolio to meet vehicle and constellation-level targets for probability of success and availability
• Define and drive HALT/HASS strategies, accelerated testing plans, and reliability growth programs across spacecraft development and production, including test standardization, lot acceptance derivations, and success-run demonstration analysis to confirm campaigns meet flight-life requirements
• Establish and