Principal Business Operations Engineer

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

6d•$150,000 - $215,000

About The Position

The Business Operations team ensures programs execute at K2 Space. Our team drives strategic planning, production optimization, and resource alignment across engineering and manufacturing. We hire engineers who can lead cross-functional initiatives, analyze operational problems, and apply operations and data science methods to optimize schedules, resources, and outcomes as the company scales. The ideal candidate is a self-starter, complex problem solver, and drives strategic decision-making.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or business discipline
8+ years of experience in a fast-paced production or start up environment
2+ years of experience in using Excel, SQL, or Python/R for analysis or modeling dynamic systems
2+ years of experience using Smartsheet or equivalent scheduling tools, and/or experience tracking critical path
Deep experience with Inventory, production, and capacity planning, including use of MRP/ERP systems
Industrial, operations, process, or manufacturing engineering in a development-stage production environment

Nice To Haves

Power BI and discrete-event simulation or modeling tools
Quantitative analysis: statistics, data analysis, cost–benefit evaluation, and visualization
Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
Background in management science, operations engineering, or industrial engineering
Effective contributor within multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams
Ability to operate in fast-paced, high-pressure environments
Clear and concise written and verbal communication

Responsibilities

Design analytical tools to evaluate delivery timelines, production capacity, manufacturing processes, and supply chain constraints, to support informed decision-making
Lead the development and execution of production schedules and output targets across programs
Partner closely with engineering and manufacturing teams on a daily basis to ensure alignment with validated milestone plans
Contribute to team efforts to shape and execute strategies that reduce production and launch risks while capturing opportunities to enhance quality, throughput, safety, and cost performance
Create process flow models that simulate production system behavior and align manufacturing output with program requirements
Develop a deep understanding of our engineering, manufacturing, and launch operations to improve production forecasting, identify process improvements, and proactively monitor engineering data inputs
Establish and monitor key performance metrics while identifying decision down-select points and actions required to optimize production v demand
Drive continuous improvement initiatives across systems and operational processes within and between functional organizations
Work collaboratively with partners across supply chain, engineering, and finance to maintain program alignment
Develop analytical models and visual dashboards to support strategic space planning and operational decision-making