Senior Integration & Test Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space, a pioneering space startup, is seeking a Satellite Integration/Test Engineer to lead development in spacecraft testing and operations. The successful candidate will focus on optimizing manufacturing flows and ensuring spacecraft readiness for missions, working in a dynamic environment. A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits await the right candidate eager to contribute to innovative space technologies.

Benefits

Unlimited paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Equity in the company

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in integration/test/automation engineering.
• Experience with environmental testing methods.
• Hands-on experience with electrical test tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop standards for test procedures used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness.
• Operate spacecraft during system tests.
• Lead qualification campaigns for development and flight hardware.

Skills

Negotiation

Conflict resolution

Electrical testing

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

Electrical test equipment

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

In your first 6 months, you will lead development of the integrated satellite-level (proto)qualification testing, including test sequence, test levels, vehicle configuration, procedures, and ground support equipment. In your first year, you will optimize the manufacturing build flow to minimize overall schedule without introducing mission risk. Within two years, you will be leading test campaigns on one or more customer programs in parallel, leveraging relationships you have built to establish strong, scalable external interfaces. While initial operations will be more manual as we exercise the vehicle design, our goal is a fully autonomous constellation. You’ll be the driver of constellation-level control to realize this goal.

Responsibilities

Develop standards for test procedures (manual and automated) used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness

Operate spacecraft (interpret telemetry, send commands) during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and during pre-launch operations

Act as a test conductor (and POC, if offsite) for environmental test campaigns

Design, build, and operate electrical and mechanical ground support equipment

Interface with customers to scope testing performed on their payloads, based on expected functions and failure modes of interest

Manage relationships with launch vehicle providers, including contractual deliverables such as interface control documents and environmental test plan justifications

Lead high-visibility (proto)qualification campaigns for development and flight hardware

Assess risks associated with different integration and test approaches, justify test reductions and optimize vehicle build/test flows for at-rate production

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline

5+ years of experience in an integration/test/automation engineering role (includes internships and design/build/compete extracurricular projects)

Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing

Experience with environmental testing, such as thermal vacuum or random vibration

Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment

Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)

Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds

Excellent conflict resolution and negotiation skills

Nice to Have

Proficient in Python and/or Rust

Experience with Linux systems

Experience managing contractual interfaces (e.g. customer, launch vehicle)

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary range for this role is $130,000 - $180,000 + 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 by22 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.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at K2 Space ? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

indicates a required field

First Name *

Last Name *

Preferred First Name

Email *

Phone *

Resume/CV *

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

School * Select...

Degree * Select...

Select...

Start date year

End date year

LinkedIn profile

How did you hear about this job? *

We value in-person collaboration, and this role requires an in-office presence. Are you able to be onsite full time at our Headquarters in Torrance, California? * Select...

What is your ideal start date? *

What are your base salary expectations? *

Active Security Clearance(s) * Select...

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? * Select...

Select...

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 ITARhere .

If Other, please explain:

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in K2 Space ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250-0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

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. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.