Propulsion Electrical Test Engineer

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

22h•$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. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M 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 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 you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we’d love for you to apply. The Role You will own the success of avionics testing involving the development of the highest-powered electric propulsion system ever flown. In your first 6 months, you will be pivotal in developing production quality test hardware and software to deliver flight avionics through ATP and QTP for the Mega satellite constellation. As part of a multidisciplinary propulsion team, you will work alongside electrical, propulsion, mechanical, manufacturing, test and automation engineers to 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, conduct propulsion system hot-fire tests, and production improvements to ensure reliability and scalability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline or any equivalent combination of education and experience
2+ years of experience in hardware testing, validation, or related roles
Strong programming abilities (Python, C++, Rust)
Solid understanding of electronic circuits, schematics, and components
Experience designing multi-layer PCBAs for high-power or avionics applications

Nice To Haves

Experience designing analog control loops, solid state load switches, motor inverters, EMI/EMC compliance, or sensor signal conditioning circuits
Experience with data acquisition, controls, and dedicated test equipment
Proficient with circuit simulation tools such as LTspice
Experience with component selection for use in radiation environments
Familiarity with SMC-S-016 or MIL-STD-810 testing methods, including vibration, shock, and thermal testing
Experience with power processing units (PPU) for electric propulsion testing
Understanding of the failure modes of electrical systems in space environments
Creative problem solver that can balance schedule, resource, and technical constraints

Responsibilities

Lead setup, execution, and analysis of tests on electronic hardware, including circuit boards and spacecraft power systems
Troubleshoot complex electronics, test setups, and anomalies in collaboration with engineering teams
Support environmental and functional testing, including vibration, thermal vacuum, and EMI/EMC testing
Design and fabricate test hardware, harnessing, and test systems to support propulsion development testing
Develop modular, reusable test automation software and drivers in Linux, Python, C++, Rust, etc
Lead satellite subsystem test campaigns from kickoff, through test report, and beyond
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 flight 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