Vehicle Operations Engineering Intern – Summer 2027

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Travel stipend

In-person internship at Torrance HQ

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking a Vehicle Operations Engineering Intern for a 3-month summer program in Torrance, CA. You will join a fast-moving team responsible for building, testing, and flying spacecraft components, while developing manufacturing methods, tooling, and build flows.

You will gain hands-on experience in large satellite structures, mechanics, and electronics, with design team collaboration to improve manufacturability, efficiency, and reliability across subsystems.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering.
• Minimum 6 months of technical engineering experience outside the classroom.
• Availability for a 12-week in-person internship at our Torrance HQ.

Responsibilities

• Support HITL table maintenance and operations to validate hardware.
• Develop test procedures to confirm spacecraft hardware and software readiness.
• Investigate vehicle issues and recommend actions to reduce failures.
• Design, build, and rollout ground support equipment for tests.
• Develop manufacturability improvements for large spacecraft assemblies.
• Create tools that integrate with Manufacturing Execution System.
• Demonstrate new manufacturing techniques on prototypes with design teams.
• Define subassembly build flow for production integration.
• Collaborate with manufacturing engineers on R&D for new tech.

Skills

Hardware testing

Manufacturing

Python

Linux

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in mechanical, electrical, or aerospace engineering

Tools

Oscilloscope

DMM

PSU

Job description

Vehicle Operations Engineering Intern – Summer 2027

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

We'relooking for a stellarVehicle OperationsEngineering Intern to join our team for a3monthinternship.You'lljoin the team responsible forbuilding, testing,andflying the vehicle,workingwithDesign and Responsible Engineersto develop manufacturing methods, tooling, and build flows for spacecraft components, as well as support the integration and test of K2's Mega class satellite systems. In this roleyou'llgainhands-on experiencedeveloping and testing manufacturing techniques for large satellite structures, mechanisms, and integrated electronics; designing ground support equipment; expanding HITL tables; and executing test campaigns.This role offers broad exposure across subsystems, opportunities to improve manufacturability, efficiency, and reliability, and the chance to own impactful projects in K2's highly collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Support HITL table maintenance and operations
• Develop test procedures used to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flightworthiness
• Investigate and troubleshoot vehicle issues and driver further actions to reduce future failures
• Design, build, and rollout ground support equipment to enable new test components and capabilities
• Develop innovative manufacturing systems for large spacecraft assemblies, including welded/bolted structures, mechanisms, and electrical subassemblies
• Create custom tools and processesthat integrate with our Manufacturing Execution Systemto support the manufacturing technologies you create
• Demonstrate the advanced manufacturing techniques on prototypes, working with the design teams to iterate onthe manufacturability of those parts
• Develop the subassembly build flow and implementing on the production flow for the satellite
• Get hands-on to build and integrate flight parts using your tooling
• Partner with a team of advanced manufacturing engineers to perform R&D of novel manufacturing technologies for current and future spacecraft products

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled in aBachelor's or Master'sdegree in mechanical, electrical, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline
• 6+ months experience of technical engineering skills outside of the university setting classroom (eg: laboratory, research, extracurricular project teams, volunteering, personalprojectsor prior internship/work experience)

Additional Requirements

• Available for a minimum 12-week internship in person at our HQ in Torrance

Nice to Have

• Ability to work well in an integrated collaborative team environment, including frequent interactions with technicians , engineers, and managers
• Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft and their related components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing
• Hands-on experience using electrical test equipment (PSU, Oscilloscope, DMM, etc.)
• Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
• Experience or exposure in a test or automation role
• Experience in Python and/or Rust
• Experience with Linux systems
• Experience setting up a manufacturing/production floor for first article builds
• Experience designing and implementing technologies for avionics subassembly manufacturing including wire harness manufacturing and PCBA/mechanical enclosure assembly
• Experience designing tooling for mechanical subassemblies
• Experience designing hardware for manufacturability
• Experience with aerospace manufacturing standards such as torque specifications, welding standards, and quality assurance standards
• Experience working in a high volume, rapid production environment
• Experience working with MES to set up foundation for procedure creation andnon conformancetracking

Compensation

• Hourly pay range for this non-exempt role is $30 - $40 per hour
• Hourly rate will be based on several factors including, but not limitedto:knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
• Housing and travel stipend may also be available

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.