Senior Ground Software Engineer, Top Secret Clearance

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space is hiring a Senior Ground Software Engineer to build and fly satellites and payloads, working on the Gravitas platform and mission automation. You will collaborate with Mission Operations and Flight Software teams to define architecture and deliver software for multiple constellations.

This role spans satellite command/control, operations, and automation across disciplines. The position requires in-person presence at our Torrance, CA headquarters and offers a competitive compensation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering
• Additionally, 5+ years of experience building software solutions in a professional environment
• Experience with space missions and/or the satellite ground segment
• Experience with Rust or another statically-typed backend programming language (Go, C++, Java, C#, TypeScript)
• Experience with version control, continuous integration, build, deployment, monitoring
• Experience with SQL databases (PostgreSQL or similar)
• Experience designing and implementing event-driven architectures
• Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
• Experience with WebSockets and/or Server-Sent-Events (SSE)
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and relevant certifications/standards (SOC2, FedRAMP)
• Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, QUIC)
• Familiarity with data streaming technologies such as NATS, Pulsar, or similar

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software that facilitates the build, test, and operations of K2's vehicles and our customers' payloads
• Collaborate with Mission Operators and Engineers across the company to identify and scope software solutions to complex technical and business problems
• Facilitate software design reviews, architecture discussions, and code reviews to align stakeholders on technical direction
• Work across our stack (Rust backend, TypeScript/Vue frontend) to support development, test, and operations milestones
• Support internal and external customers in an on-call capacity as your software is used to drive ground test activities and on-orbit spacecraft operations
• Mentor other engineers to build a strong team culture and software engineering practices

Skills

Software engineering

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science / engineering / STEM

3+ years of professional software engineering experience

Tools

Rust

TypeScript

Vue

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Senior Ground Software Engineer, Top Secret Clearance

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 Senior Software Engineer on our Ground Software team, youare responsible forcreating the software that is used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads. You will build upon the mission software platform used to fly K2's Gravitas satellite, developing new capabilities and automation as we scale to support multiple constellations. You will collaborate closely with internal Mission Operations and Flight Software teams to define and implement our overall mission architecture, and you will work with external customers to scope and deliver software that meets their payload needs.

You will have the opportunity to work in exciting, interdisciplinary domainslike:satellite command and control, constellation operations, mission automation, radio communications, astrodynamics, and more.

**This role requires in person presence at our headquarters in Torrance, CA.**

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software thatfacilitatesthe build, test, and operations of K2's vehicles and our customers' payloads
• Collaborate with Mission Operators and Engineers across the company toidentifyand scope software solutions to complex technical and business problems
• Facilitate software design reviews, architecture discussions, and code reviews to align stakeholders on technical direction
• Work across our stack (Rust backend, TypeScript/Vue frontend) to support development, test, and operations milestones
• Support internal and external customers in an on-call capacity as your software is used to drive ground test activities and on-orbit spacecraft operations
• Mentor other engineers to build a strong team culture and software engineering practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering
• Additionally, 5+ years of experience building software solutions in a professional environment

Nice-to-Have

• Experience working on space missions and/or the satellite ground segment
• Experience with Rust or anotherstatically-typedbackend programming language (Go, C++, Java, C#, TypeScript)
• Experience with version control, continuous integration, build, deployment, monitoring
• Experience with SQL databases (PostgreSQL or similar)
• Experience designing and implementing event-driven architectures
• Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
• Experience with WebSockets and/or Server-Sent-Events (SSE)
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and relevant certifications/standards (SOC2, FedRAMP)
• Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, QUIC)
• Familiarity with data streaming technologies such as NATS, Pulsar, or similar

Compensation and Benefits

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

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.

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.

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.