Senior Mission Payload Engineer - Lead Spacecraft Integration

K2 Space Corporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles seeks a Senior Mission Payload Engineer to lead payload integration across the full satellite lifecycle and to act as the main technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners.

You will collaborate with program managers and engineering disciplines to define payload interfaces and develop test plans ensuring mission success. Strong project management and hands‑on aerospace experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• 4+ years of experience in aerospace/space industry, working with spacecraft, launch vehicles, airborne systems, or payloads.
• 2+ years of technical project management and/or systems engineering experience.
• Hands‑on experience with developing, integrating and testing launch vehicles, spacecraft, or other aerospace systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical, electrical, software, and power interfaces for satellite payloads.

Responsibilities

• Manage payload integration across the full satellite lifecycle. Support initial proposals, design, development, integration, testing, launch and on‑orbit commissioning.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for payload integration. Lead technical discussions, represent K2 Space in design reviews, and ensure customer requirements are understood and met.
• Develop, maintain, and negotiate payload interface documentation. Define mechanical, electrical, software, power, and mission interfaces, ensuring clear technical alignment between payload and bus teams.
• Create and execute payload interface verification and validation plans. Develop testing strategies to ensure compliance with mission and interface requirements and oversee final sell‑off with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross‑functional integration efforts. Work closely with vehicle engineering, avionics, software, propulsion, thermal, and AI&T teams to ensure seamless payload integration.

Skills

Aerospace experience

Project management

Systems engineering

Payload interfaces

Hands-on testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

K2 Space Corporation in Los Angeles seeks a Senior Mission Payload Engineer to lead payload integration across the full satellite lifecycle and to act as the main technical interface between K2 Space, customers, and partners.

You will collaborate with program managers and engineering disciplines to define payload interfaces and develop test plans ensuring mission success. Strong project management and hands‑on aerospace experience are required.