Principal Solar Manufacturing Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Paid parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space in Los Angeles is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Lead to define the strategy for solar array hardware. This pivotal role requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field and at least 10 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing. You will drive manufacturability, mentor the engineering team, and need a strong background in solar manufacturing processes. The position includes a competitive salary of $175,000 - $200,000 plus equity and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in high-volume manufacturing or hands-on engineering.
• Recognized technical authority in solar manufacturing processes.
• Proven ability to lead and develop other engineers.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the manufacturing strategy for solar hardware.
• Drive solar array manufacturability at the architecture level.
• Lead technical responses to complex manufacturing anomalies.

Skills

Manufacturing strategy ownership

Technical mentoring

Cross-program root cause analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials, or relevant engineering discipline

Job description

Role

You will define how solar array hardware is built at K2 – shaping the vision, architecture, and technical foundation that turns bold ideas into flight‑ready reality at scale. This is a role at the frontier, where entirely new classes of hardware move from concept to orbit, and where your decisions expand the boundaries of what can be designed, built, and deployed in space. Operating across the full lifecycle, you will embed manufacturing into the DNA of every product, ensuring that what is imagined can be realized with precision, speed, and unwavering reliability. You will take on the most complex and ambiguous challenges, breaking through fundamental constraints in yield, throughput, and scalability to unlock step‑change performance. As the technical authority for solar manufacturing, you will set direction, raise the standard for excellence, and develop engineers across the organization, building not just systems, but a culture capable of sustained innovation and execution. Your impact will be lasting, creating the foundations that enables flight hardware to be produced faster, perform better, and scale to meet missions that redefine what humanity can achieve in space.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the manufacturing strategy for K2’s solar hardware including solar modules, photovoltaic arrays, and integrated wing assemblies
• Drive solar array manufacturability at the architecture and concept level, partnering with Design leadership before requirements are locked to embed manufacturability from day one
• Own the manufacturing technical baseline from process qualification records, tooling design standards, and assembly process specifications
• Lead the technical response to the most complex manufacturing anomalies, non‑conformances, and systemic build issues, including cross‑program root cause and corrective action
• Identify, evaluate, and champion transformative manufacturing technologies across automation, advanced metrology, novel bonding or lamination processes
• Serve as a technical mentor and force multiplier for the broader Solar Manufacturing Engineering team
• Represent manufacturing engineering in executive program reviews, customer readiness reviews, design reviews, and build reviews

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, manufacturing, aerospace, materials, or other relevant engineering discipline
• 10+ years of experience in a high‑volume manufacturing, production, or hands‑on engineering environment
• Recognized technical authority in solar manufacturing and photovoltaic array integration processes
• Demonstrated history of shaping product designs at the architecture level through DFM influence, not just late‑stage redlines
• Experience owning manufacturing technical baselines through major design overhauls or production transitions
• Proven ability to lead and technically develop other engineers, and to influence outcomes across Design, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production without direct authority

Nice to Have

• Experience scaling solar or high‑reliability electromechanical hardware from early development to full‑rate production
• Background in advanced manufacturing automation, including robotic assembly or vision‑guided systems
• Prior work on space‑grade solar arrays, deployment mechanisms, or flight power systems
• Familiarity with reliability physics, radiation effects on photovoltaic materials, or space environment qualification testing

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $175,000 – $200,000 + 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 paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

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.