Avionics Test Engineer, Optical

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

3h•$100,000 - $150,000

About The Position

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. The company is 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 K2 believes 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 planned through 2026 and 2027, K2 is Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. This role is for a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup. K2’s plan doesn't stop at satellite buses. Operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space uniquely positions K2 to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform – the payloads are the mission. As an Optical Avionics Test Engineer, you will be pivotal in developing production test hardware and software to deliver optical avionics through ATP and QTP. You will be working alongside the Optical team to interface with ambitious optical payloads, validate prototype designs, define test requirements, and design test infrastructure to meet critical programmatic milestones such as delivery of flight hardware to vehicle integration. In your first year, you will lead multidisciplinary test campaigns, root cause investigations, and production improvements to ensure reliability and scalability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, computer, aerospace, or other relevant engineering discipline or any equivalent combination of education and experience
2+ years of experience with test hardware design and software scripting
Strong programming abilities (Python, C++, or Rust)
Experience designing, building, and testing electrical assemblies and test fixtures

Nice To Haves

Experience with design and testing of optical systems
Experience with camera automation and quantitative image processing (ex. beam profiling), power meters, and laser interlocks.
Experience with data acquisition, controls, and dedicated test equipment
Familiarity with SMC-S-016 or MIL-STD-810 testing methods, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing
Understanding of the failure modes of electrical and optical systems in space environments
Demonstrated ability to own electrical or optical hardware test systems within an integrated engineering team
Creative problem solver that can balance schedule, resource, and technical constraints

Responsibilities

Design and fabricate test hardware, harnessing, and test systems to support optical payload development testing
Develop modular, reusable test automation software and drivers in Python, Rust, C++ for Linux platforms
Execute development and production tests to meet internal and external customer needs
Develop data acquisition, control, and instrumentation systems to test at the integrated level
Own the project management of multiple test assets and acceptance testing of optical avionics including upgrades to support hardware lifecycle
Design device simulators deployed across component subsystem and HITL testbeds
Collaborate with a cross-functional team to establish product requirements, testing methods, and project test schedules
Design and build optical tables with automated active alignment for high-rate optical testing