SCI)

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

K2’s Principal Crypto Engineer owns the technical architecture and design of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment. The role leads designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test, and defines how satellites protect command, telemetry, and mission data at the hardware and software levels. The engineer partners with teams across the organization to integrate cryptographic functions into K2’s systems and to create designs suited to high-volume satellite production. Reporting to the VP of Satellite Engineering & Operations, the Principal Crypto Engineer works closely with the National Security team’s COMSEC Certification Lead, who owns the path to NSA approval. This foundational role establishes cryptographic design standards for the program and supports troubleshooting of fielded and on-orbit systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of engineering experience designing or integrating cryptographic systems or secure communications.
Hands-on experience integrating NSA Type-1 cryptographic equipment into a hardware or software system.
Working knowledge of key management and key loading implementations.
Strong systems-level thinking, including the ability to reason from first principles across hardware, software, and RF boundaries.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, demanding startup atmosphere with competing priorities and aggressive schedules.
Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance; ability to obtain and maintain access to additional programs as needed.
Ability to travel up to 15% of the time.
Ability to work irregular business hours to support critical project timelines or operations.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Nice To Haves

Experience with spacecraft, satellite, or other space-system cryptographic integrations.
Experience with embedded systems, FPGA design, or flight software.
Familiarity with cryptographic modernization initiatives and current NSA-approved algorithms and equipment.
Background in RF, link design, or secure command and telemetry systems.
Exposure to NSA certification processes.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end technical architecture of Type-1 cryptographic integrations across the spacecraft, payload, and ground segment.
Lead crypto designs from concept and trade studies through implementation, integration, and test.
Design encryption, key management, and key loading implementations for command, telemetry, and mission data.
Integrate cryptographic functions into flight software, avionics, FPGA, RF, and ground systems in partnership with those teams.
Define hardware and software interfaces between crypto equipment and the broader system architecture.
Produce design documentation and test evidence needed to support certification, working closely with K2’s COMSEC Certification Lead.
Identify and mitigate cryptographic design risks across hardware, software, and RF boundaries.
Establish reusable cryptographic designs, interfaces, and standards that scale across K2’s production line.
Support anomaly resolution and troubleshooting for fielded and on-orbit crypto systems.