Senior Development Test Technician

K2 Space•Los Angeles, CA

12d•Onsite

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 As a Senior Development Test Technician, you will play a critical role validating next-generation spacecraft hardware for the Mega Class satellite. In this role you will be working side-by-side with Design, Manufacturing, and Test Engineers helping establish the Mega Structures Lab, execute development test campaigns, develop test procedures, build custom test setups, and perform structural and mechanical testing. The ideal candidate is highly autonomous, mechanically inclined, and comfortable making informed decisions while raising technical risks and concerns, all while maintaining the highest standards of safety.

Requirements

7+ years of hands-on aerospace development, environmental test, or structural test experience
Experience working with high energy test systems and promoting a strong safety culture through rigorous procedures and best practices.
Experience assembling complex mechanical systems from engineering drawings
Strong mechanical troubleshooting skills
Experience operating DAQ systems (Dewesoft, MTS, Revel, or similar)
Experience assembling hydraulic and pneumatic systems
Experience operating cranes, forklifts, lifting equipment, and rigging safety
Excellent communication skills with ability to communicate technical risks and concerns
Strong ownership mentality and attention to detail

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with spacecraft, launch vehicle, or aircraft development
Ability to read mechanical and engineering drawings and interpret tolerances (including GD&T)
Experience operating MTS systems, Instron or Frank Bacon load frames, and Data Physics vibration systems
Experience with harness and connector selection / fabrication
Airframe & Powerplant License
Ability to obtain or current hold top secret/SCI security clearance

Responsibilities

Build, assemble, modify, and tear down complex development test stands, fixtures, and one-off engineering hardware
Prepare test articles, for development and qualification testing
Execute static load, proof load, structural verification, leak checks, and subsystem development testing
Assemble hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical systems used during testing
Install, route, and verify instrumentation and data acquisition hardware, including load cells, strain gauges, displacement sensors, accelerometers, thermocouples, video systems, and test harnesses
Perform fabrication and modification to fixtures and test hardware using manual machining, drilling, cutting, grinding, sanding, and other shop tools to support rapid iteration
Collaborate closely with Structural, Manufacturing, and Test Engineers throughout development
Troubleshoot test equipment, instrumentation, fixtures, and hardware anomalies
Identify technical risks and opportunities to improve tooling, test methods, lab processes, and overall test reliability
Monitor inventory of tooling, fittings, hoses, consumables, and other test equipment
Participate in rigging, crane, and lifting operations for test articles and test equipment
Process work orders, lab maintenance requests, and test documentation as required
Maintain lab readiness through 5S, calibration tracking, preventative maintenance, and equipment upkeep
Operate independently with a high level of ownership while raising technical concerns and driving safe test execution