Senior Solar Process Engineer

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid parental leave

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a Materials and Process Engineer in Los Angeles, California. The role involves owning the materials selections for solar arrays and other subsystems for satellite operations. Candidates should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and have over 2 years of experience in materials engineering. A competitive salary of $100,000 to $140,000 plus equity is offered along with a comprehensive benefits package. K2 Space values diverse, motivated individuals eager to innovate in space technology.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in materials and process engineering.
• Demonstrated track record of high-reliability hardware program decisions.
• Experience with radiation effects on solar materials.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Responsible M&P engineer for satellite systems.
• Define qualification criteria, test envelopes, and characterization campaigns.
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations for material-related anomalies.

Skills

Material selection

Characterization

Production-scale process development

Failure analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, or related

Tools

Material characterization techniques (SEM, EDS, etc.)

Job description

Overview

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors with additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we are mass-producing high-power satellite platforms for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry toward mass abundance. K2 engineers satellites designed to survive harsh radiation environments and to capitalize on today’s and tomorrow’s rockets, delivering unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we’re building bigger 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 excited about contributing to a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

The materials that go into K2's solar arrays—from module interconnects and adhesive systems to cover glass coatings and substrate composites—directly determine how much power they produce, how long they last, and how fast we can build them. Collaborating across the engineering and production teams, you will own the success of the materials selections and their implementations that will be key to our successful satellite operation.

You will define how K2 selects, qualifies, and scales materials and processes for its solar array systems and other subsystems. The operating environments, mission lifetimes, and production rates we are pursuing demand meaningful impact in how our materials are characterized, qualified, and manufactured. You will own the success of implementation of material systems in the development and scaling of K2’s solar array design.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Responsible M&P engineer for our satellite bus structures, mechanisms, thermal, electrical, and solar array systems, including adhesives, sealants, cover glass, and coatings
• Partner with experienced M&P engineers to help define the strategy and qualification philosophy for satellite materials spanning LEO to deep space mission environments
• Research, trade, and select conventional and novel materials and processes for various novel applications
• Define qualification criteria, test envelopes, and characterization campaigns that establish material performance margins across radiation, thermal cycling, mechanical, and plasma environments
• Lead design reviews, continually own system-level M&P deliverables, and drive development schedules with accurate projections looking 12+ months ahead
• Collaborate with solar, structures/mechanisms, thermal, avionics, and production teams to define material-driven requirements, integrated qualification/acceptance testing, and on-orbit data review
• Lead failure analysis and root cause investigations for material-related anomalies, establishing corrective action processes that feed back into design and production
• Evaluate, qualify, and manage material suppliers, including incoming inspection criteria, lot acceptance requirements, and supply chain risk mitigation
• Authorize, implement, and maintain M&P requirements, material and process specifications, technical specifications, and engineering work standards related to solar array materials and other spacecraft materials

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, or related technical discipline
• 2+ years of experience in materials and process engineering, with demonstrated depth in material selection, characterization, qualification, and production-scale process development
• Demonstrated track record of material and process decisions that have been validated through flight or equivalent high-reliability hardware programs

Nice to Have

• Master's degree or PhD in materials science, chemical engineering, or a related field
• Experience architecting M&P programs for solar array systems across the full development lifecycle — requirements definition, trade studies, development testing, qualification, production, and on-orbit data analysis
• Background working across multiple solar array material systems with variations in cell technology, interconnect metallurgy, encapsulant chemistry, and substrate architecture
• Deep understanding of adhesive systems, composites, thin films, thermal interface materials, and coatings as applied to high-power, long-life solar arrays
• Familiarity with applicable standards for solar modules qualification and spacecraft charging effects
• Experience with radiation effects on solar materials, including displacement damage dose modeling, ionization effects, UV degradation, and atomic oxygen erosion
• Expertise in key M&P disciplines including fracture mechanics, corrosion control, outgassing compatibility, statistics, and failure analysis
• Proficiency with material characterization techniques and tools (SEM, EDS, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XRD, or equivalent)
• Experience scaling material processes from prototype to high-rate production, including SPC implementation and manufacturing equipment qualification
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes including soldering, wire bonding, welding, lamination, heat treatment, plating, conversion coatings, and surface modification
• Python or MATLAB proficiency for test data analysis and degradation modeling
• Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills across disciplines

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $100,000- $140,000 + 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.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.